Resources for Homeless Service Providers

Providers and Partners Briefings & Updates

Access the presentations from the virtual briefings and updates hosted by DHS for providers and partners here.

Local Guidance

The interim guidance provided is based on what is currently known about COVID-19. DHS will update interim guidance as additional information becomes available.

Modified Measures for Congregate Shelter (as of July 8, 2021)
This document explains the interim changes to the modified operations in the congregate programs in light of Mayor's Order 2021-069 on Modified Measures for spring/summer 2021 of the District's reopening.
- Letter to Residents Living in Congregate Shelter

DC Department of Human Service (DHS) Interim COVID-19 Guidance For Homeless Service Providers (as of March 13, 2020)
This document provides guidance for homeless shelters and other providers in the homeless services system running congregate care settings, such as day service centers.
DC Department of Human Services (DHS) Interim Guidance on Congregate Feeding for Homeless Service Providers (as of March 17, 2020)
This document provides guidance for homeless shelters and other providers in the homeless services system specifically around congregate feeding, and adjustments that should be made to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to your clients and staff.
Client Letter - Resuming In Person Case Management (as of July 8, 2021)
In-Person Case Management Guidance (as of July 8, 2021)
COVID-19 Self Screening Mobile App (as of July 8, 2021)
DC Health COVID-19 Screening Tool (as of July 8, 2021)
These documents provide guidance on temporary changes to DHS case management services as part of its response to COVID-19.
DC Department of Human Services (DHS) Interim COVID-19 Guidance on Screening and Testing at Congregate Shelters, Youth Programs, & Outreach (as of July 8, 2021)
In order to maintain a safe environment for clients and staff, congregate shelter staff will screen clients staying at or entering the shelter for risk of COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus. Staff at programs for youth where self-isolation is not possible will conduct screening in accordance with this protocol. Outreach staff will also screen clients they have engaged. If clients are deemed to be at risk of having COVID-19 after initial screening, shelter/ outreach staff will arrange for those clients to get appropriate care based on guidance from the District Department of Health (DC Health).
- COVID-19 (coronavirus) State of Emergency DHS Hotline One Pager
- COVID-19 (coronavirus) State of Emergency DHS Client Referral Letter due to symptoms in English (as of May 8, 2020) and Spanish (as of March 22, 2020)
- ISAQ Referral Information to Collect (as of May 5, 2020)
DC Department of Human Services (DHS) Interim COVID-19 Guidance on Screening and Testing at Short Term Family Shelter (as of April 9, 2020)
In order to maintain a safe environment for clients and staff, family shelter staff will screen clients staying at or entering the shelter for risk of COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus. If clients are deemed to be at risk of having COVID-19 after initial screening, shelter staff will arrange for those clients to get appropriate care based on guidance from the District Department of Health (DC Health).
Guidance on Employees Exposed To COVID-19 OR Experiencing Symptoms of COVID-19 (as of March 3, 2021)
This document offers guidance on how homeless service providers should respond when employees are showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19. This guidance also explains what providers should do when an employee has been identified as having been in close contact (see definition below) with another employee or a client who has been tested for COVID-19.
- DC Health COVID-19 Template Letter for Employers
Guidance on Clients Exposed to COVID-19 (as of March 3, 2021)
This document explains how shelter providers and other site-based programs should handle situations where a shelter resident tests positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and other shelter residents may have been exposed to the virus. Specific guidance may vary based on the details of each case and will be provided by the DC Department of Health (DC Health).
- COVID-19 (coronavirus) State of Emergency DHS Client Referral Letter due to close contact in English
- COVID-19 Testing Flyer Template (as of November 24, 2020)
- ISAQ Referral Information to Collect (as of May 5, 2020)
Guidance on District Residents Experiencing Homelessness Obtaining a DC ID & Birth Certificate during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency, all in-person services at the DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) locations are currently closed. In order to ensure that individuals, youth, and families experiencing homelessness can continue to move through the housing process at this time, the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness worked with the DMV to create a virtual process for case managers to help their consumers obtain a DC ID as quickly and efficiently as possible.
- Modified COVID-19 Process for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness to Receive DC ID (virtual process as of July 14, 2020)
- Identity Verification Requirements (as of November 2019)
- Entitlement Verification Requirements (as of January 2020)
- DC Social Service Proof of Residency Form
- Interim Birth Certificate Voucher Process (as of July 2020)
Guidance for Phase 2 Reopening for Congregate Shelter Providers (as of June 22, 2020)
This document provides guidance to congregate shelter providers on services during the District's Phase Two Reopening

Local Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccine

The Department of Human Services is working with DC Health and Unity Health Care to ensure neighbors who are currently unhoused have access to the vaccine. Visits to low-barrier shelters, the Pandemic Emergency Program for Medically Vulnerable Individuals (PEP-V) sites, and encampments are being conducted to ensure residents have the opportunity to get vaccinated.

The following outreach and engagement information shares details about the benefits of the vaccine and how it can help to protect residents from contracting coronavirus.

Posters

Low-Barrier Shelters

Seasonal Shelters

Youth Shelters

Frequently Asked Questions

Cartoon Explainer

Download the "How the Moderna and Pfizer Vaccines Work" cartoon explainer

Additional information about the District's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccination Program is available at coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccine.

Homeless Services Day Programs & Meal Sites

Homeless Services Day Programs & Meal Sites
To mitigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), many programs serving individuals experiencing homelessness across the District are modifying operations. This homeless services day program and meal sites list shares the most up-to-date information on the operations of privately-funded day programs across the District.

Please note: this list is based on the best information currently available and is updated as new information is provided.

Supply Requests

Providers should continue ordering supplies through their normal procurement process for as long as they possibly can. Where providers are unable to obtain supplies, please complete the DHS COVID-19 Resource Request Form. TCP is working with DHS to order and store backup supplies, but this will be for the purpose of gap-filling if and when provider supply chains fail. TCP will work directly with providers to fill these requests if possible or triage to DHS items that they cannot fill.

Volunteers

As the District continues responding to and working to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Mayor Muriel Bowser is encouraging volunteers to join the DC Medical Reserve Corps (DC MRC). The DC MRC is housed in the DC Department of Health (DC Health) and supports public health and medical emergency preparedness, response, and recovery by recruiting, training, and deploying medical and non-medical volunteers to assist with planned events and emergencies. Volunteers can complete the online registration here.
- View Mayor Bowser's announcement encouraging volunteers to join the DC Medical Reserve Corps (DC MRC)

Hand Washing Station Locations in the District of Columbia

To mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the District has placed handwashing stations at locations throughout the city. The stations are being managed by the DC Department of Human Services and serviced daily by the DC Department of General Services. To request maintenance service for a station, please email [email protected].
- List of Handwashing Station Locations in the District of Columbia
- Map of Handwashing Station Locations in the District of Columbia

Mobile Toilet Station Location in the District of Columbia

To mitigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the District has placed handwashing stations at locations throughout the city. The stations are being managed by the DC Department of Human Services and serviced by the DC Department of General Services.
- List of Mobile Toilet Station Locations in the District of Columbia
- Map of Mobile Toilet Station Locations in the District of Columbia

Federal Guidance

U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 Interim Guidance for Homeless Shelters
Persons experiencing homelessness may be at risk for infection during an outbreak of COVID-19. This interim guidance is intended to support response planning by homeless service providers, including overnight emergency shelters, day shelters, and meal service providers.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 Interim Guidance for People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness
This guidance is intended to provide key actions that local and state health departments, homelessness service systems, housing authorities, emergency planners, healthcare facilities, and homeless outreach services can take to protect people experiencing homelessness from the spread of COVID-19.

Federal Resources

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Infectious Disease Toolkit for CoCs
This toolkit provides structure and specific examples for planning and responding to Influenza, Coronavirus, and other infectious diseases. The toolkit consists of three documents that provide information for CoC leadership, homeless service providers, and partners to utilize when planning for and responding to infectious diseases.

Share Your Stories Here

All of our amazing providers in the Continuum of Care are sacrificing tremendously to ensure, to the degree possible, the safety and well-being of the most vulnerable residents in the District. We encourage you to share your tips, experiences, thoughts, and photos with us, and we will post here. Please send your submissions to [email protected].

Attachment(s):

COVID Screening and Testing at Congregate Shelters