National Health Care for the Homeless Council

The Council Is Here to Support You

A Letter from Our CEO Bobby Watts

There are some things that Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) providers do better than anyone else in the country. Responding to the needs of people during natural disasters is one of them. The skills that we employ every day—treating people experiencing trauma with no identification, medical records, prescriptions, and with multiple health problems—are what are needed during that type of crisis.

We are in another type of crisis now. The whole world is concerned about how to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. Not enough organizations are focused on what the pandemic means for people experiencing homelessness, but HCH and medical respite care programs are—and the Council is here to support you ... Read the full letter.

The National Health Care for the Homeless Council is proud to collaborate with Kaiser Permanente on a $1 million funding initiative to increase capacity for coronavirus treatment and prevention in people without homes.

Identifying crucial front-line organizations in concert with the NHCHC, Kaiser Permanente will generously provide $1 million to regional programs working to address the dual epidemics of homelessness and COVID-19. Stay tuned for more information as this initiative moves forward.

Learn More

Read Our New Brief: COVID-19 & the HCH Community

As more information emerges on novel coronavirus, we are collecting resources and guidance to help HCH programs and their patients respond to this public health crisis. Yesterday we released a new issue brief, "COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Needed Policy Responses for a High-Risk Group."

Read this publication to learn why people experiencing homelessness are an especially high-risk population and the immediate public policy responses that are needed to better prevent a more serious outbreak of COVID-19 among a very vulnerable group.

Read the Brief

Quick Guide Offers Consumer-Friendly COVID-19 Information for Homeless Shelters and Service Providers

As part of our partnership with Kaiser Permanente, the Council has developed a visual guide featuring key information and practical tips on COVID-19 in plain language to aid providers and consumers in the Health Care for the Homeless community.

Synthesizing guidelines from CDC, HUD, and other organizations, this brief primer features "at-a-glance" information about common symptoms, how to protect yourself and others, how to care for clients at risk of or with COVID-19, and self-care.

Learn More

New Consumer-Specific Resources

It is critical that we share accurate information on COVID-19 not only with providers but also directly to consumers. A number of new COVID-19 resources—some by and for consumers—present guidance specifically for people experiencing homelessness. Recent examples (some of which contain explicit language) include:

Information for People Who Are Homeless and Use Drugs (Homeless Youth Alliance in San Francisco, CA)

"How Do You Wash Your Hands When You Don't Have a Sink?" poster (Western Regional Advocacy Project)

Frequently Asked Questions on COVID-19 (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

COVID-19 Guidance for People Engaged in Substance Use Treatment (Yale Program in Addiction Medicine)

Do you have consumer-oriented questions about COVID-19? Contact our National Consumer Advocate Katherine Cavanaugh or learn more about our National Consumer Advisory Board.

View More Resources

Don't Forget! Join Us at 12:30-2 p.m. ET This Friday for Our COVID-19 and the HCH Community Webinar

People without homes are at particular risk from novel coronavirus, but the HCH community is in a unique position to care for an especially vulnerable population during an infectious disease outbreak. At this 90-minute webinar you will hear from HUD and CDC staff as well as HCH leaders who will discuss the outbreak's current status, available guidance for homeless services, preparations homeless health care providers are making, and the myriad outstanding issues being identified.

Learn More

In Case You Missed It: Last week's HUD webinar, "Infectious Disease Preparedness for Homeless Assistance Providers and Their Partners," is now available for viewing. HUD, CDC, NHCHC, and King County Department of Community and Human Services experts provided updated guidance and information to support responses to COVID-19.

Explore Coordinated Entry Systems in Our New Issue of Healing Hands

It can be frustrating and confusing for people without homes to navigate complex patchworks of local homeless service organizations. Our latest CME-accredited issue of Healing Hands focuses on how communities are implementing Coordinated Entry Systems (CESs) to help clients access necessary services through a single entry point and more efficiently coordinate assistance for people without homes.

Learn how HCH programs across the country can customize CESs, assess vulnerability, respond to challenges, and implement best practices to improve how they serve vulnerable populations and people experiencing homelessness in their communities. Read CME information for this issue or browse our archives.

Read the Issue

Council in Media Spotlight: Why We Must Respond to the Threat of COVID-19 to People Without Homes

The National HCH Council has been at the forefront of the media conversation to raise awareness of the deadly risk that COVID-19 poses to people without homes. Some recent stories drawing on Council expertise include:

ABC News: Coronavirus and the Homeless: Why They’re Especially at Risk, Ways to Stop a Spread ‘Like Wildfire’

The Los Angeles Times:An Unexpected Side Effect of the Coronavirus? A New Urgency about Helping Homeless People

The Seattle Times: Lack of Bathrooms, Sanitation Leaves Unsheltered Homeless Less Protected Against Coronavirus

The Tennessean: Advocates: Care for Homeless Population Vital to Coronavirus Response

MarketWatch: 6 Ways to Donate, Volunteer and Help Others During the Coronavirus Outbreak—‘Everyone Is a Responder in This Crisis

Modern Healthcare: Kaiser Permanente pledges $1M to treat homeless for COVID-19

The Council is always available to inform coverage of homelessness and health care. Find more recent coverage on our website or contact us for more information.

View Recent Stories

ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES

Coronavirus:

Council COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Needed Policy Responses for a High-Risk Group (New!)

Consumer-Friendly Visual Guidelines on COVID-19 (New!)

Everyone Counts and Everyone Should Be Counted: The 2020 Census and Why It Matters
Presented by the National HCH Council and Community Action Partnership
Today! | 1-2 p.m. CT

Coronavirus and the HCH Community
Presented by the National HCH Council
Friday, March 20 | 11:30-1 p.m. CT

Clinicians’ Coffee Chat: CHWs in Diabetes Care and Prevention
Presented by the National HCH Council
Wednesday, March 25 | 12-1 p.m. CT

View Archived Webinars

2020 National HCH Conference & Policy Symposium
May 11-14 | Phoenix, AZ
Registration
Agenda
Hotel Information
Consumer Subsidies
Exhibits & Sponsorships

Family Nurse Practitioner
Amador Health Center | Las Cruces, NM

Bilingual Behavioral Health Provider – LCSW
Amador Health Center | Las Cruces, NM

Supervising Registered Nurse
LifeLong Medical Care | Oakland, CA

Behavioral Health Counselor
Outside In | Portland, OR

Respite Services Program Director
LifeLong Medical Respite Programs | Oakland, CA

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The Council Is Here to Support You

A Letter from Our CEO Bobby Watts

Kaiser Permanente and Council Partnering to Help Respond to COVID-19 in People Without Homes

Read Our New Brief: COVID-19 & the HCH Community

Quick Guide Offers Consumer-Friendly COVID-19 Information for Homeless Shelters and Service Providers

New Consumer-Specific Resources

Don't Forget! Join Us at 12:30-2 p.m. ET This Friday for Our COVID-19 and the HCH Community Webinar

Explore Coordinated Entry Systems in Our New Issue of Healing Hands

Council in Media Spotlight: Why We Must Respond to the Threat of COVID-19 to People Without Homes

ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES

Coronavirus:

Everyone Counts and Everyone Should Be Counted: The 2020 Census and Why It MattersPresented by the National HCH Council and Community Action PartnershipToday! | 1-2 p.m. CT

Coronavirus and the HCH CommunityPresented by the National HCH CouncilFriday, March 20 | 11:30-1 p.m. CT

Clinicians’ Coffee Chat: CHWs in Diabetes Care and PreventionPresented by the National HCH CouncilWednesday, March 25 | 12-1 p.m. CT

2020 National HCH Conference & Policy SymposiumMay 11-14 | Phoenix, AZRegistration Agenda Hotel Information Consumer Subsidies Exhibits & Sponsorships

Family Nurse PractitionerAmador Health Center | Las Cruces, NM

Bilingual Behavioral Health Provider – LCSWAmador Health Center | Las Cruces, NM

Supervising Registered NurseLifeLong Medical Care | Oakland, CA

Behavioral Health CounselorOutside In | Portland, OR

Respite Services Program Director LifeLong Medical Respite Programs | Oakland, CA

Everyone Counts and Everyone Should Be Counted: The 2020 Census and Why It Matters
Presented by the National HCH Council and Community Action Partnership
Today! | 1-2 p.m. CT

Coronavirus and the HCH Community
Presented by the National HCH Council
Friday, March 20 | 11:30-1 p.m. CT

Clinicians’ Coffee Chat: CHWs in Diabetes Care and Prevention
Presented by the National HCH Council
Wednesday, March 25 | 12-1 p.m. CT

2020 National HCH Conference & Policy Symposium
May 11-14 | Phoenix, AZ
Registration
Agenda
Hotel Information
Consumer Subsidies
Exhibits & Sponsorships

Family Nurse Practitioner
Amador Health Center | Las Cruces, NM

Bilingual Behavioral Health Provider – LCSW
Amador Health Center | Las Cruces, NM

Supervising Registered Nurse
LifeLong Medical Care | Oakland, CA

Behavioral Health Counselor
Outside In | Portland, OR

Respite Services Program Director
LifeLong Medical Respite Programs | Oakland, CA