Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions (OHHS)

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.

• Hawaii DOH – Interim Guidance for Homeless Shelters and Encampments to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 (March 18, 2020)
• HUD: Office Hours – COVID-19 Planning & Response for Homeless Assistance Providers – March 20, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. HST) – Due to high demand, HUD strongly suggests that participants join the session 15 minutes prior to the start time (8:15 a.m. HST).  To join the session, click on the link.   If you have any questions about Office Hours, or encounter difficulties joining the session, contact [email protected] 
• Memo to Homeless Programs Office (HPO) Providers – March 6, 2020
• Partners in Care Oahu COVID-19 Resource Page
• Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hotline – The health center has opened a free hotline at (808) 697-3170 that is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is staffed by health professionals to answer general questions about the virus.
• Queen’s Health Systems – COVID-19 Information – The Queen’s Health Systems operate a 24/7 COVID-19 infoline at (808) 691-2619.  You can talk to a registered nurse and get your medical-related questions answered 24 hours a day.
• HOPE Services Hawaii – Street Medicine Card – This flyer was developed by HOPE Services Hawaii and shares basic information about street medicine services, as well as specific information about COVID-19 for individuals living in encampments.
• Coronavirus and the HCH Community: Status Updates, Available Guidance, Local Preparations, and Outstanding Issues – March 20, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. EDT (6:30 a.m. HST)
• HUD: COVID-19 Planning & Response Office Hours – March 13, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. EDT (8:00 a.m. HST) – Click on the link to view the recording and slides from the March 13th Office Hours on HUD Exchange.
• Washington State Department of Health – Recommendations for Homeless Shelter Facilities – Updated March 12, 2020
• HUD Webinar: Infectious Disease Preparedness for Homeless Assistance Providers and their Partners – March 10, 2019
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Interim Guidance for Homeless Shelters – March 9, 2020

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:

• HUD Infectious Disease Prevention & Response
• HUD Exchange Disease Risks and Homelessness
• HUD Exchange Infections Disease Toolkits to Prevent and Manage Spread of Infectious Disease in Shelters and Encampments 
• U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) COVID-19 Resource Page
• National Network to End Domestic Violence – COVID-19 Guidance for Programs
• National Healthcare for the Homeless Council – Coronavirus and Influenza Resources
• Hawaii Department of Health, Disease Outbreak Control Division – COVID-19 Resources & Frequently Asked Questions (including multilingual translations)
• Hawaii Department of Human Services Provider / Vendor / Contractor COVID-19 Resource Page
• CDC, Get your Community- and Faith-based organizations ready for Pandemic Flu (2017)
• Street Sheet – What if you can’t stay home? (A list of recommendations from homeless people and advocates at the Coalition on Homelessness to support the health of people experiencing homelessness during the coronavirus state of emergency)

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:

• Sample Pandemic Continuity Planning for Nonprofit Organizations
• FEMA – Continuing of Operations, An Overview
• Princeton University – Continuity of Operations Plan Template and Framework