Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for Homeless Service Providers

Posted on Jun 11, 2020 in News

NEW – Behavioral Health and Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group (BHH-SURG)

  • BHH-SURG COVID-19 Resources – This site contains information for provider organizations contracted by the Hawaii Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration, Department of Human Services Homeless Programs Office, and the office of the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness.

AGENCY & PROVIDER UPDATES (as of March 19, 2020).

  • ALEA Bridge – As of 3/13/20, homeless outreach services will continue business as usual.
  • Family Promise of Hawaii – As of 3/13/20, Family Promise is suspending bringing any new families into its shelter program.
  • Hawaii Community Foundation, Community Resilience Fund – Together, HCF and Pierre and Pam Omidyar have established the Hawaii Resilience Fund at HCF to address the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Hawaii.
  • Hawaii Department of Education – As of 3/18/20, the memo explains DOE’s plans to provide food services for the duration of the extended Spring Break period.  A “grab and go” model will be utilized by which the community will be able to stop by at a school and pick up a meal to go.
  • Hawaiian Electric – As of 3/17/20, Hawaiian Electric will suspend service disconnections for 30 days so customers who are financially challenged by the coronavirus pandemic don’t have to worry about losing electric service.
  • Institute for Human Services – As of 3/18/20, this memo outlines heightened safety measures implemented by I.H.S. for its shelter operations. In addition. I.H.S. is changing its meal procedures. Meals will still remain available to everyone including those not staying in the shelter, but for those who are not staying at the shelter overnight, meals will be in to-go containers.  Non-I.H.S. residents will be able to take their meals to go.  Only residents of the shelter will eat within the facility.   Here are the new hours for the meals:
    • Breakfast, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
    • Lunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
    • Dinner, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Kauai County Housing Agency, Hale Kokua – As of March 17th, the County of Kauai Homeless Program Services and Life Choice programs are limiting contact with the public as described in this memo.
  • Mental Health Kokua, Punawai Rest Stop – In response to the CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 limiting groups to ten (10) people or less, the Punawai Rest Stop will limit hygiene group size within the building effective Sunday, March 22, 2020 and will expand hours to 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily to accommodate the increased demand.
  • The Salvation Army – As of 3/19/20, the Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) and Thrift Store will be closing and the Family Services Office will be unable to assist with clothing vouchers until further notice.

COVID-19 GENERAL RESOURCE INFORMATION:

Please see below for information regarding planning and preparation related to slowing and preventing the spread of respiratory infectious diseases, including COVID-19.   This page will be updated as new information becomes available.

To view and receive updates from the Hawaii Department of Health regarding COVID-19, click HERE.

To view the CDC COVID-19 general resource page, click HERE.

The following resources also share helpful information regarding planning and preparation for COVID-19:

RESOURCES FOR CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLANNING:

Homeless service providers are encouraged to develop and review their agency’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).   A COOP is an effort within agencies to ensure that primary mission essential functions continue to be performed during periods of emergency.  For more information on COOP planning and development, please view the resources below: