This new guidance, which is available below as a PDF, is intended to help communities minimize the spread and impact of the rapidly-spreading Delta variant of COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness.
It was informed by CDC guidance and developed by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC), and the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH).
It offers the following recommendations that should be implemented immediately:
While it’s important for all homeless services staff, volunteers, and clients to get vaccinated as soon as possible, USICH stresses that being fully vaccinated should not be treated as a prerequisite to receive shelter, housing, or services; and regardless of vaccination status, all homeless services staff, volunteers, and clients should continue wearing masks and physically distancing.
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) provides many ways to fund these recommendations. To learn how to leverage those resources, read USICH's recently-released guide to the ARP funding that impacts people experiencing homelessness.
For more COVID guidance and resources, click here.