| A Time of Challenges and Opportunities
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When have we ever been jolted to a nationwide focus on a singular topic that lands so squarely at the intersection of health care, homelessness, and housing? Truly, this is an unprecedented time for us all.
While the HCH Community is uniquely trained to respond to this pandemic, the larger systems around us generally are not. In fact, COVID-19 only illuminates the gaps in the system we’ve been talking about for years. As health care providers, this crisis is challenging us in many areas of our work: clinical, finance, human resources, program operations, advocacy, and our concern for the well-being of our patients and staff. It is completely overwhelming.
But we also have an opportunity to make needed, sustainable changes. Right now, there’s a push to expand programs and services, invest in permanent housing and medical respite care, and improve Medicaid (among others). There’s also a growing recognition of the unique needs of our community. How will we use this moment? Could we finally recognize housing and health care as human rights in this country—making long-term structural improvements rather than just short-term crisis patches? Right now, many of us are muddling through day by day, but let’s not lose hope that this crisis also poses opportunities for betterment.
As a community, we remain united in our support for each other in the difficult work ahead. Best wishes to all of you.
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| News to Know From the Hill
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- Two COVID-19 Bills Passed Earlier This Month (without direct homelessness supports): On March 6, Congress authorized $8.3 billion in the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Act, which included nutrition assistance, funding for medical supplies, cash for state and local governments, expanded paid leave, and notably $100 million for Community Health Centers (see more in the next section). On March 18, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which included an increase in the state Medicaid match, free COVID-19 testing, paid sick leave, unemployment aid, and further nutrition assistance. [PLACEHOLDER FOR HYPERLINK TO BILL ANALYSIS DOCUMENT]
- Senate reaches bipartisan agreement on a third bill: Late last night the Senate voted on a $6 trillion dollar bipartisan package, and while subject to change, the House is expected to vote on the bill this Friday and send it to the President’s desk for a signature immediately. The bill contains many provisions relevant to homelessness and the HCH community, including $1.32 billion of additional funds for health centers, and much needed resources for housing and homelessness (housing summary here) that includes $4 billion in Emergency Solutions Grants and an expanded moratorium on evictions. Billions more is provided for health services, medical supply shortages, and flexible funds for states to use as needed.
See more in our Summary of Key Provisions which will be updated as legislation is finalized and more information is released about fund distribution.
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| News to Know From the Administration
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- HRSA awards $100 million to health centers for COVID-19 response: On Tuesday, HRSA allocated emergency funding to health centers to cover expenses related to COVID-19 responses.
- Trump wrongly announces a suspension of evictions. President Trump announced an end to evictions, but the policy only applies to homeowners with mortgages insured through the Federal Housing Administration. This falls woefully short of the immediate need to put a moratorium on all evictions and foreclosures. A further expansion of the moratorium is likely to be addressed by Congress’ third bill expected to pass this week (see above). Learn more from NBC News.
- New CDC guidance on encampments. With input from the Council and other stakeholders, the CDC released guidance for responding to COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness, strongly advising against sweeps of homeless encampments, encouraging safe discharge from hospitals, and other important policies.
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Our Advocacy
We are working on your behalf to mitigate the impact of this crisis on individuals experiencing homelessness. We are communicating with Congressional leaders on priority areas around health, housing, and homelessness in the constantly evolving national landscape. We are pushing our state and local action agenda with our partners at the National Governor’s Association and with state and local health officers, we are working with government agencies to develop guidance and best practices for the field (ex: the CDC’s statement on encampments), and we are creating spaces to share best practices. See more of what we’re doing below.
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Data and research is a powerful tool in our advocacy. Resources are regularly updated on our COVID-19 landing page.
- NHCHC issue brief summarizing the impact on the homeless population and immediate policy actions needed at the local level: COVID-19 & the HCH Community: Needed Policy Responses for a High-Risk Group
- NHCHC Archived Webinar: Coronavirus and the HCH Community: Status Updates, Available Guidance, Local Preparations, and Outstanding Issues
- From United Health Care and developed with input from the Council, a summary of immediate and concrete action steps for city and county homeless providers, state Medicaid agencies, federal lawmakers, and Managed Care Organizations. Homelessness & COVID-19: Considerations & Action Steps.
- New research shows the disproportionate risk of COVID-19 on homeless populations: Estimated Emergency and Observational/Quarantine Bed Need for the U.S. Homeless Population Related to COVID-19 Exposure by County; Projected Hospitalizations, Intensive Care Units, and Mortality (Dennis Culhane, Dan Treglia, Ken Steif, Randall Kuhn, & Thomas Byrne)
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The coronavirus moved elections into uncharted territory, with seven states rescheduling primaries (CT, GA, IN, KY, LA, MD, OH). Find all crucial dates here. The two remaining Democratic contenders, Biden and Sanders, released coronavirus response plans in addition to their policies on housing and homelessness and health care. Now more than ever we need leadership that supports housing and health care as human rights. As public gatherings are being canceled, keep an eye out for candidates’ virtual gatherings, which should make it even easier to submit one of our suggested candidate questions.
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Did you receive Mobilizer as a forwarded email or hear about it via social media? Register now to receive our action alerts each month!
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Push for a Plan and a Promise: If you have the capacity, talk to your local officials about implementing two necessary actions for combatting this crisis immediately. 1) Every locality needs a plan for where people experiencing homelessness will quarantine and isolate. 2) Local officials need to promise that local encampments will not be swept or disrupted. Use our local asks and new CDC guidance on encampments. You may not be in a position to speak on behalf of your agency, but any private citizen can tweet a question. Try: “Hey @MayorsHandle: what are you doing for our homeless neighbors who need a safe space to isolate and quarantine? #Coronavirus
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Urgent: Help Us Advocate for Medical Respite Emergency Funds: New Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds will be made available in response to COVID-19 and we need this money to be used and prioritized for medical respite care and any/all health care services and supports in shelters and housing. We need you to advocate to your contacts in local housing authorities, governors offices, and CoCs to ensure these funds go towards services.
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Local Feature
Send us your stuff! Many media outlets are featuring our community members’ incredible work on the front lines of this crisis. Please send rreed@nhchc.org these articles so we can share them in our next edition. Here are local pieces featuring Unity Health Care in Washington, DC, and NHCHC Board Member, David Peery, in Miami, FL.
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Poverty Policy Podcast
The latest podcast features conversations with Catherine Crosland, MD, Director of Homeless Outreach, from Unity Health Care in Washington DC, and Barbara DiPietro, PhD, Senior Policy Director at the Council on the local response to the coronavirus pandemic. Listen to this episode now on iTunes and Stitcher.
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This publication and all HCH advocacy are funded by dues from Organizational Members of the Council and by private donations. Consider joining the Council to support this work.
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