In an attempt to address questions that you may have during these trying and fluid times, please find below some resources to assist you in directing those you serve – our students experiencing homelessness. These are resources at the national and state levels on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) generally and specifically as it relates to schools in your respective state.
The information will include ways to stay safe, and up-to-date information on school closings, state closings, and resources for educators and parents. Please note that each state and/or school districts are also creating places for students to receive free meals and resources while they are out of school. Try the links below to locate that information. In addition, some higher education information may be provided below depending upon the state.
Thank you for all you do! BE SAFE!
NAEHCY Webinar with the CDC on COVID-19 Vaccines and School Reopening
Follow-up resources provided by your speakers are as follows:
HUD resource page, which has a lot of great materials- https://www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/diseases/
CDC Operational Strategy – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/operation-strategy.html
CDC K-12 Mitigation Toolkit – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-mitigation-toolkit.html
CDC Guidance for ventilation in buildings – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ventilation.html
CDC Guidance on how do I set up my classroom – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/community/schools-childcare/How_Do_I_Set_Up_My_Classroom.pdf
CDC Science Brief on Transmission in Schools – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-research/transmission_k_12_schools.html
CDC landing page for homelessness and COVID-19- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/homeless-shelters/index.html
CDC Vaccine FAQs specific for people experiencing homelessness- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/homeless-shelters/vaccine-faqs.html
CDC implementation guidance for reaching people experiencing homelessness with vaccine- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/homeless-shelters/vaccination-guidance.html
Department of Education Handbook – https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-covid-19-handbook-volume-1-strategies-safely-reopening-elementary-and-secondary-schools
And finally the ingredients for the vaccines-
Pfizer- https://www.fda.gov/media/144413/download
Moderna- https://www.fda.gov/media/144637/download
Eviction Moratorium
CDC Issues Eviction Order in Areas of Substantial and High Transmission – 08/03/2021
Click here for more information!
CDC and HHS Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19
Eviction Lab COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard for state by state information on eviction moratoriums
Tenant Declaration Template to assist with preventing eviction through the end of December 2020.
For resources for renters, please see the HUD website HERE. For rental assistance programs in your state, a state by state resource, please go HERE.
Webinar held on Friday, January, 15:
For the PowerPoint slides, click HERE.
Waivers Granted under the CARES Act
Flexibility/Waivers Granted by the CARES Act + Mega Waiver and Guidance
CPD Program Formula Allocations and CARES Act Supplemental Funding for FY
For All Grants and All CARES Act Grants
NAEHCY Reopening of Schools Guidance
For a Resource Guide – national, state by state, municipal, and school district by district plans on reopening of schools, CLICK HERE
Resource Guide Update on September 3rd:
Texas: Listed below are links to TEA TEHCY Program resources:
- SY 20-21 Engaging Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Guide
- COVID-19 FAQ: Guidance for Students Experiencing Homelessness
- TEHCY COVID-19 Tool – Guidance for Student Experiencing Homelessness
- TEHCY COVID-19 Tool – Identification Tool for School Staff
- TEHCY COVID-19 Tool – Supporting Students Living in Motels and Hotels
- TEHCY COVID-19 Tool – Supporting Students Living in Shelter
- TEHCY COVID-19 Tool – Supporting Students Living in Doubled-up Situations
- McKinney-Vento Posters for Parents
- McKinney-Vento Posters for Youth
South Carolina: parent guide, Back to School Amid COVID: What if I am not ready?
NAEHCY Survey Results, CLICK HERE
NAEHCY REOPENING OF SCHOOLS PEER GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,
For a downloadable format, CLICK HERE
Introduction
On January 30, 2020, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. States and communities took necessary steps to limit spread of the disease by issuing stay-at-home orders and closing schools, child care programs, public benefit offices, non-essential businesses, and many other public spaces where families experiencing homelessness typically receive support. As a result, families experiencing homelessness faced and continue to face extra barriers to resources and services on which they rely, and swift and intentional action is needed to ensure families experiencing homelessness receive the support they need to prevent significant and persistent harm to their physical and mental health, learning and development, and overall well-being.
As such, the following are considerations and issues that have already arisen with school closures beginning at the end of the last school year and are likely to continue to be issues as schools decide to remain with virtual only instruction or a hybrid model of virtual and in-person in the many different forms that currently exist and are likely to exist moving forward. Even for schools that decide to return in-person only, there will be challenges given the year end closures and issues that have arisen as a result of those closures including losing track of students previously identified as experiencing homelessness.
General concerns
Homelessness already creates barriers to resources and services, and those barriers are now amplified with schools, programs, and service providers being available virtually or partially virtual, and having gone through year end closures. That being said, we also recognize the delicate balance that needs to be considered with regard to in-person considerations and the benefits to in-person learning and the importance of schools to our students experiencing homelessness.
Issues/Considerations Identified: The issues identified, and potential strategies outlined below are a result of a NAEHCY survey to primarily homeless liaisons and others servicing our 1.5 million students experiencing homelessness. There were 564 respondents from 42 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
*Key to the strategies are partnerships. Partnerships have been established throughout the nation between schools/school districts and community members, local businesses, local service providers, and churches.*
ISSUE |
STRATEGIES |
Food and Nutrition: Schools serve as sites for providing daily sustenance while schools are in session.· Access to Food and Nutrition. Not all schools were able to provide the amount of food that was needed during the closures on their own, and some were not able to account for those students who needed delivery. · Access to Transportation. Families may not be able to make it to food distribution sites, especially if those sites are in multiple locations, due to lack of access to safe, reliable transportation · Access to Space and Refrigeration. Families may have trouble storing food because they don’t have access to adequate space, refrigerators, etc. · Access to Credit. Families experiencing homelessness may not have access to credit which makes buying groceries online nearly impossible as well |
· Collaboration with churches, businesses, organizations, community members to provide meals for families and students
· Delivery through collaboration with the local community · Bus stop delivery through schools |
Reliable and Consistent Internet Connectivity, and Access to Technology· Families experiencing homelessness often do not own computers or even smart phones; they also often lack access to reliable internet service |
· Partner with local cable companies and/or other businesses to provide stable and reliable internet connection, and devices to facilitate connectivity
· Schools and/or school-business partnerships to provide the devices · Placing WIFI on buses and parking them in various locations where needed · Libraries and community centers can provide WIFI in parking lots |
Supplies and Learning materials· Students experiencing homelessness often lack the supplies and learning materials needed for academic success that they may be able to otherwise obtain while at school |
· Provide supplies and materials to McKinney-Vento students
· Delivery made available through partnerships to provide students with the supplies and materials · Drive through pick-ups · Home visits to deliver supplies and learning materials |
School Communications/Connections
|
· Create a schedule to maintain constant connection and/or establish a coordinator to make regular contact with families
· Visit shelters · Home visits · Utilize text apps and text messaging for communication · Create a plan to reestablish contact with families who may have been lost through school closures |
Consistent Space to Learn, Study, Work
|
· Establish space in small cohorts for the students to work and study
· Partner with community centers and libraries to provide work and study space |
Mentors, Tutors, Adults· McKinney-Vento students will not have access to mentors, tutors and adult presence to assist in work and study |
· Create a mentor and tutor program specifically for McKinney-Vento students
· Establish small cohorts for instruction · Keep the students on a structured schedule · Establish regular check-ins · Create child care programs |
After school activities· With school closures or partial school closures, after school activities have been eliminated or limited with COVID-19 restrictions |
· Partner with your city or town to assist with the administering of after school programs |
Healthcare: The students and their families are not likely to have access to PPE and are likely to be identified as a vulnerable community· Vulnerable by pre-existing conditions. People in families experiencing homelessness often have higher rates of health problems, including high rates of asthma in children; these underlying health issues make them more vulnerable to negative outcomes of COVID-19 · Vulnerable by living conditions. Families experiencing homelessness are often living in congregate or crowded living situations, which also make them more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. Families experiencing homelessness may not have access to cleaning supplies, soap and water, etc. and control over the space they live in, which means they must depend on someone else to keep their living space sanitized · Vulnerable by lack of transportation. Lack of transportation is a well-documented barrier to education, healthcare, employment, public benefits, etc. among families experiencing homelessness. Many families experiencing homelessness don’t have access to a personal vehicle, meaning they must depend on public transportation, which exposes families to COVID-19 · Vulnerable by lack of educational resources on the COVID-19 virus |
· Work with local organizations to educate families on the COVID-19 virus
· Provide kits with PPE and hygiene products · Partner with local businesses to provide access to washers and dryers and cleaning supplies |
Mental Health· Mental health challenges as a result of COVID-19 compound an already often challenging experience of homelessness and the roots of homelessness |
· Establish a mental health program with resources to assist students and families |
Transportation
|
· Partner with local community to provide delivery of supplies, products, devices, meals
· Provide home visits · Make calls · Create a coordinated system of communication with families · Work with partners to provide bus passes |
Intimate Partner Violence and Child Maltreatment· We already know domestic violence can be a contributor to family homelessness. During times of crisis, rates of intimate partner violence often increases and with few alternatives for families experiencing homelessness to flee to, we expect more families to experience violence during this time · Likewise, during a time of great uncertainty, significant financial challenges, heightened stress and anxiety, and restricted access to resources and social supports, children may face greater risk of experiencing maltreatment |
· Home visits
· Coordinate communications and contact with other agencies and resources · Make phone calls |
NAECHY Campaign: Crowdsourcing Solutions During COVID-19
Tambra Chamberlain of North Carolina
Norma Mercado of Texas
Rebeka Beach of Ohio
Rexanne Hill of Missouri
Grace Sibley of Louisiana
NAEHCY Webinar Series – Troubleshooting Service Delivery During the COVID-19 Outbreak
First Video – East Coast recorded Friday, April 17, 2020:
Second Video – Mountain recorded Friday, April 24, 2020:
Third Video – Central recorded Tuesday, April 28, 2020:
Fourth Video – West Coast recorded Tuesday, April 28, 2020:
Resources and Guidance
World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Centers for Disease and Control Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Guidance for schools:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html
U.S. Department of Education:
https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus
Education Week resources to check on state closings and school closings state by state with an interactive map:
https://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/map-coronavirus-and-school-closures.html
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
Please go to the following USDA Food and Nutrition Service website on all the waivers now being given during the outbreak:
FNS Response to COVID-19
HUD Guidance
Protecting Health and Well-being of People in Encampments During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
Non-Congregate Responses to Sheltering for COVID-19 Homeless Response
COVID-19 Stimulus Bill
For an exhaustive site with regard to the stimulus bill and what it means for your state, please go to:
COVID-19 Stimulus Bill: What it Means for States
Migrant Literacy NET
For resources and a previously recorded webinar on how to use Migrant Literacy NET for interim and home-based instruction, please go to: https://recordings.join.me/GmhHLIj9KE2U6yFj-H7D3g
American Bar Association (ABA):
ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty
ABA Tax Section – Economic Impact Payment IRS Resources
Alabama:
Alabama general resources and up-to-date information on the virus and all closings and services:
Alabama school closings with detailed information:
Alaska:
Alaska Department of Health Services on general resources and up-to-date information:
http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Epi/id/Pages/COVID-19/default.aspx
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development on the virus:
https://education.alaska.gov/safeschools/infectiousdisease
Arizona:
Arizona Department of Health Services:
Arizona Department of Education up-to-date information on the virus:
Arkansas:
Arkansas Department of Health for up-to-date information:
https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/novel-coronavirus
For educators:
https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/covid-19-guidance-for-educators
On schools and closings:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/covid-19-information
California:
California Department of Health:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
California virus guidance for schools:
Colorado:
Colorado Department of Health:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/2019-novel-coronavirus
Colorado Department of Education with video:
https://www.cde.state.co.us/safeschools
Connecticut:
Department of Health:
https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus
Guidance for schools:
Delaware:
Department of Health:
https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/2019novelcoronavirus.html
On school closures:
Florida:
Department of Health:
http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/
Department of Education:
http://www.fldoe.org/em-response/
Georgia:
Georgia Department of Public Health:
https://dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus
Georgia for school closures, resources, and daily virus counts:
https://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/communications/Pages/COVID-19-School-Closures.aspx
Please contact the following email address for additional questions, corrections, concerns: schoolsafety@doe.k12.ga.us
Hawaii:
State Department on Health:
State Department of Education:
Idaho:
Statewide information:
https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/
Resources for schools:
https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/resources-for-schools/
State Department of Education:
Illinois:
Statewide information and resources:
http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus
Illinois State Board of Education:
https://www.isbe.net/coronavirus
Indiana:
Statewide information and resources:
https://www.in.gov/coronavirus/
Department of Education on the virus:
Iowa:
Iowa Department of Public Health:
https://idph.iowa.gov/emerging-health-issues/novel-coronavirus
School guidance:
https://educateiowa.gov/article/2020/03/16/pk-12-guidance-response-covid-19
Department of Education:
https://educateiowa.gov/article/2020/03/16/pk-12-guidance-response-covid-19
Kansas:
Department of Health:
http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/
State Department of Education:
https://www.ksde.org/Home/Quick-Links/News-Room/commissioner-of-education-issues-guidance-to-school-districts-regarding-covid-19-1
Kentucky:
Cabinet for Health and Family Services:
https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/pages/covid19.aspx
Health alerts – KY:
https://healthalerts.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
State Department of Education:
https://education.ky.gov/districts/SHS/Pages/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.aspx
Louisiana:
Department of Health:
http://ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus/
Department of Education:
https://louisianabelieves.com/resources/covid-19
Maine:
Statewide information:
https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/airborne/coronavirus.shtml
Department of Education:
https://www.maine.gov/doe/covid-19
Maryland:
Statewide information and department of health information have been combined during the crisis:
https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/
State Department of Education:
http://marylandpublicschools.org/Pages/default.aspx
Massachusetts:
Statewide information:
https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
FAQs on the virus:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/frequently-asked-questions-about-covid-19
Department of Education:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/emergencyplan/covid19.html
Michigan:
Statewide information:
https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/
HHS information:
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71550_5104_97675—,00.html
Association of Superintendents and Administrators:
Minnesota:
Statewide information:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html
Strategies to slow the spread:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/action.html
Department of Education:
https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/health/covid19/
Mississippi:
State Department of Health:
https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420.html
State Department of Education:
https://www.mdek12.org/COVID19
Missouri:
Department of Health and Senior Services:
https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education:
https://dese.mo.gov/communications/coronavirus-covid-19-information
Montana:
Statewide resources:
https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/cdepi/diseases/coronavirusmt
Office of Public Instruction:
Nebraska:
Department of Health and Human Services:
http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
Department of Education:
https://www.education.ne.gov/publichealth/resources/
Education resources:
https://www.education.ne.gov/publichealth/
Nevada:
Division of Public and Behavioral Health:
http://dpbh.nv.gov/coronavirus/
FAQs Department of Education:
New Hampshire:
Statewide information:
Department of Education resources:
https://www.education.nh.gov/who-we-are/commissioner/covid-19
New Jersey:
Department of Health:
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/mers.shtml
Department of Education:
https://www.nj.gov/education/topics/
New Mexico:
Statewide information:
Department of Health:
Information on school meals:
https://www.newmexico.gov/2020/03/16/n-m-families-check-here-for-info-on-school-meals/
New York:
State Department of Health information:
https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/
More statewide information:
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/coronavirus.page
Student Support Services:
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/schoolhealth/schoolhealthservices/coronavirus.html
State Department of Education Resources:
North Carolina:
Division of Public Health:
Updates:
Epidemiology:
https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/diseases/coronavirus.html
Department of Public Instruction guidance:
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/news/coronavirus-guidance-schools-and-districts
North Dakota:
Department of Health:
https://www.health.nd.gov/diseases-conditions/coronavirus
Resources for schools:
https://www.health.nd.gov/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/resources-schools
Ohio:
Statewide information:
https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/Novel-Coronavirus
Department of Health:
https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/
Department of Education:
http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Coronavirus
Oklahoma:
State Department of Health:
https://coronavirus.health.ok.gov/
Situation summary:
Department of Education:
https://sde.ok.gov/newsblog/2020-03-12/coronaviruscovid-19-faqs-oklahoma-public-schools
Oregon:
Health Authority:
Department of Education:
https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/healthsafety/Pages/COVID19.aspx
Pennsylvania:
Department of Health:
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
Information on Education K12 and Higher Education:
https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus%20Education.aspx
Rhode Island:
Department of Health:
https://health.ri.gov/diseases/ncov2019/
FAQ:
https://health.ri.gov/publications/factsheets/novel-coronavirus.pdf
Department of Education:
https://www.ride.ri.gov/InsideRIDE/AdditionalInformation/Covid19.aspx
South Carolina:
Statewide information:
https://www.scdhec.gov/infectious-diseases/viruses/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
Department of Education:
https://ed.sc.gov/newsroom/covid-19-coronavirus-and-south-carolina-schools/
South Dakota:
Department of Health:
https://doh.sd.gov/news/Coronavirus.aspx
Department of Education:
https://doe.sd.gov/error.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/publichealth/coronavirus.aspx
Tennessee:
Department of Health:
https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html
Department of Education:
https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-safety/update-on-coronavirus.html
Texas:
Health and Human Services:
https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/
Education Agency resources:
Utah:
Statewide information:
Information and resources by the State Board of Education:
https://schools.utah.gov/coronavirus
Vermont:
Department of Health:
https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/infectious-disease/2019-novel-coronavirus
Agency of Education:
https://education.vermont.gov/news/covid-19-guidance-vermont-schools
Virginia:
Department of Health:
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/surveillance-and-investigation/novel-coronavirus/
Department of Education:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/office/covid-19.shtml
Washington:
Statewide information:
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
Guidance and resources by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction:
https://www.k12.wa.us/about-ospi/press-releases/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-resources
Washington, D.C.:
General information:
DC public schools:
https://dcps.dc.gov/coronavirus
West Virginia:
Department of Health and Human Resources:
https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/Pages/default.aspx
Department of Education:
Wisconsin:
Department of Health Services:
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm
Department of Public Instruction:
https://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/2019-novel-coronavirus
Wyoming:
Department of Health:
https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/novel-coronavirus/
Resources from the Department of Education:
https://edu.wyoming.gov/educators/covid-19-resources/
Other Resources:
Soles4Souls:
Homelessness has long been a problem in the US, and the pandemic has made it worse. While many organizations are focused on the critical needs of food and shelter, school officials tell us shoes are essential for students to succeed. It’s why Soles4Souls created our 4EveryKid program to provide a pair new shoes to children experiencing homelessness across the country. Because without a good pair of shoes, kids feel embarrassed, discouraged, or left out simply because they lack something most of us take for granted. For more information and how to get involved, contact Tiffany Turner: tiffanyt@soles4souls.org.