(NAEH) Prioritizing COVID-19 Vaccines for People Experiencing Homelessness

Best Practices A practical newsletter for people ending homelessness. Contact Your State Health Department About Prioritizing People Experiencing Homelessness for COVID-19 Vaccines As COVID-19 vaccines are nearing distribution to those at highest risk of contracting the virus, Continuums of Care (CoCs) should urge their state health departments to prioritize people experiencing homelessness and the workers who serve them. Make sure state authorities know people experiencing homelessness are uniquely at severe risk for contracting COVID-19, given the prevalence of risk factors in homeless populations, including racial disparities. The initial distribution of vaccines to those at highest risk of COVID-19 will save lives and reduce the rate of community spread - especially among people experiencing homelessness. CoCs should contact their state and local health departments as soon as possible to advocate for this prioritization.  Learn more about national and state vaccine plans >>> Upcoming Webinars Ready to Respond: Disaster Planning for Multifamily Affordable Housing Organizations Thursday, December 10 1:30-3:00 pm EST Panelists will unveil the new Ready to Respond: Business Continuity Toolkit, which equips multifamily affordable building owners and managers with a plan to address crises including natural disasters and COVID-19. Speakers:  Priscilla Almodovar, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Community Partners Janet Golrick, Associate Deputy Secretary Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Jeffery Hayward, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Fannie Mae; National Alliance to End Homelessness Board Chair  Laurie Schoeman, National Director, Resilience and Recovery, Enterprise Community Partners Register here >>> Eviction Prevention and Housing Retention During and After COVID-19 Wednesday, December 16 3:00 - 4:30 pm EST Join the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s new Homeless and Housing Resource Center for a webinar that will explore strategies for eviction prevention and housing retention. The webinar will focus on how to implement data-informed, targeted prevention efforts that prioritize racial equity and will provide strategies that can be implemented now to prevent future housing instability when the moratoria expire. Speakers: John Kuhn, SSVF National Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Larry McDonough, Attorney at Law and Adjunct Professor of Law, Senior Minnesota Counsel, National Anti-Eviction Project, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Randy McCoy, Executive Director of Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless (MACCH), Omaha, Nebraska Register here >>> Deadline Approaching for Mainstream Housing Vouchers Last month, HUD announced that it has made $86.85 million available to public housing agencies (PHAs) in the form of Mainstream funding vouchers to assist non-elderly populations with disabilities impacted by COVID-19. CoCs should review the list of requests and determine if they can work with local PHAs to put these vouchers to use. Please note that PHAs can apply for additional mainstream housing voucher funds through the rest of the year. The Alliance encourages CoCs to partner with local PHAs to submit a competitive application. Learn more about the application process before the deadline of December 31, 2020. Facebook Twitter endhomelessness.org