Citygate Network's Coronavirus Tool Kit
Updated 05/25/21
Critical Links | News | Webinars | Member Protocols | Resources
GENERAL OVERVIEW
The staff of rescue missions and kindred ministries, similar to medical personnel, are serving at the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these organizations are the only refuge in their areas for people who are experiencing homelessness. People living on the streets are more vulnerable to contracting viruses than the general population, and sickness can spread more easily among them.
A chief goal of our member ministries during this time is to mitigate the risk of overwhelming hospital operations with people who have been unsheltered. Communication, collaboration, support, and—most of all—prayer are more critical than ever at this time. For this reason, Citygate Network is in constant communication with members, in addition to numerous government agencies, to gain insight, stay familiar with resources, and advocate for the needs of our member ministries. This toolkit will be regularly updated with information from the most reliable sources. Check back frequently, stay prayerful, and let us know what you need or how we can help.
Citygate Network members: Don’t lose sight of these critical links!
(1) Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers UPDATED May 21, 2021
(2) COVID-19 Integrated County View providing maps, charts, and data provided by CDC, updated daily by 8 pm ET
(3) CDC vaccination strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccination services to people experiencing homelessness. UPDATED April 30, 2021
(4) “The Big Six” recommendations from USICH to maintain safe "bubbles" within your mission or ministry.
(5) A CDC/White House/FEMA-approved tool for self-screening to see if you have COVID-19.
(6) CDC Checklist for Homeless Service Providers During Community Re-opening which includes important considerations for service delivery as the surrounding community reopens and your guests resume interacting with the public. UPDATED May 16, 2021
(7) CDC Considerations for Health Departments for SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Homeless Shelters and Encampments covering types of tests, the appropriate use of testing, and suggestions related to testing asymptomatic individuals with recent known or suspected exposure to Coronavirus. UPDATED March 17, 2021
5/25/21
CDC Updates COVID-Related Guidance for Shelters
This past Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made changes to their “Interim Guidance for Homeless Services Providers.”
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4/23/21
Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness from the CDC
The CDC explains how messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be effective in preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in randomized placebo-controlled Phase III trials.
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CDC Report on Postvaccination Infections
Early studies suggest that COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe illness however, postvaccination SARS-CoV-2 infections (i.e., breakthrough infections) can occur because COVID-19 vaccines do not offer 100% protection.
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2/12/21
CDC Updates Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination
The CDC has updated interim guidance offering implementation strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccination services for those experiencing homelessness. Included are considerations associated with how and where vaccines are administered, logistics for vaccination events, and methods for documenting doses and conducting second-dose reminders.
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1/25/21
COVID-19 Congregant Dining Solution
Read how a Citygate Network member discovered how to reintroduce "dignified dining" for their guests in person and inside.
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1/11/21
Important Information about COVID-19 Vaccination
The following information was provided by the USICH via an email sent on January 7, 2021.
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12/21/20
Small business allies decry Congress' short-term fix
Congress is about to unleash hundreds of billions of dollars in aid to small businesses, a long-awaited injection of relief that some employers, economists and advocates say won't be nearly enough as the economy faces a worsening winter slowdown.
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11/5/20
CDC Releases Updated Ventilation Guidance
Early this week the CDC announced updated guidance for homeless service providers to improve ventilation in your building, helping to protect your guests.
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8/20/20
Federal Agencies & Homelessness Providers: Preparing for the Upcoming Flu Season Amidst the Coronavirus
Citygate Network has partnered with Family Promise and Salvation Army to provide valuable resources and collaboration in the battle against COVID-19, Family Promise recently shared the link to a recent recording of a webinar to help you prepare for the 2020-21 flu season in the midst of the pandemic. The call included representatives from USICH, CDC, and DOH, among others. Login to Citygate Network’s members-only site to listen and access these valuable resources.
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WEBINAR ARCHIVE
Citygate Network President John Ashmen hosted members and government experts on webinars addressing various COVID-19 updates and other pertinent topics. The presentations were followed by a Q&A giving members the opportunity to express their greatest concerns.
The following subjects were prominent during many of the calls:
- Staffing/Personnel — Finding enough people to carry on basic operations in cases where volunteers have been asked to suspend their work and older staff have been asked to stay home.
- Supplies — Having the ability to get cleaning and sanitation goods at a time when the public is making a run on these same products.
- Food — Getting access to food at a time when food donations from the public have dropped off and restaurants that provide leftovers have shut down.
- Funding — Putting the needs of the nonprofit community in front of the administration and Congress to petition for relief dollars at a time when financial donations are waning.
- Local Governments — Making sure the work that missions and ministries are doing is understood and given priority support on the local level.
- Disease Control — Making sure the work that missions and ministries are doing is understood and given priority support on the local level.
The entirety of these webinars were recorded and are available to members. Login to Citygate Network’s members-only site to listen.
WHAT MEMBERS ARE DOING DIFFERENTLY
Citygate Network members are telling us what they are doing differently—procedures, protocols, services, staffing—in light of the Coronavirus crisis. Login to Citygate Network’s members-only site to access the list.
Member organizations are named on the list so peers can contact them for more information. Please email Alice Gifford with any things you are doing that you don’t see on the list.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS:
For mission/ministry staff : Since doctors know the virus is contagious before people show symptoms, they recommend maintaining good hygiene, washing your hands frequently, and staying home when you’re sick.- For volunteers: There are three schools of thought here. The first is to allow volunteers to continue to participate, but conduct thorough screenings. The second approach is to temporarily ban all volunteer assistance and have staff and clients (who are going to be present anyway) handle all duties. The third is a combination of one and two, bringing in key volunteers to be supervisors because of experience and special skills.
- For guests and clients: We must not assume individuals needing our services are immune from community spread simply because they might not travel abroad or seldom come in contact with people who have traveled overseas. The “degrees of separation” can be surprisingly few. In truth, our homeless neighbors are more vulnerable because of compromised physical condition. Additionally, they are unable to “shelter in place” once infected due to the realities of their circumstances.
COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Precautionary Health Care Products
With COVID-19 spreading, it’s important to take precautionary steps to protect your mission and those you serve daily. This flyer provides a list of health items to consider acquiring for your mission or ministry.
Relief Bed Masks and Face Shields
Relief Beds can produce 500 face shields a day. For more information and pricing, contact Scott Smalling at (253) 312-0653 or scott@reliefbed.com.
Mission Supplies
DollarDays—a long-standing and trusted business partner of Citygate Network—is here to serve you by providing critically needed goods. This allows you to stretch your dollars, accomplish your mission and provide dignity to those you serve. The current COVID-19 pandemic introduces particular challenges. Everyday necessities such as shelf-stable food and snacks, face masks, sanitizers, wipes, diapers, personal care hygiene products, bedding, and more, are difficult to find. DollarDays can source these and many items not listed here. Call 877-837-9569 for immediate personalized assistance or use the following links to begin your online order. If you call, be sure to mention that you are a Citygate Network member to get free shipping.
Order COVID-19 Personal Care and Safety Supplies
Order Shelf-stable Food Kits
Resources and links are now being updated for Citygate Network members. Sign in to access these uniquely curated webinars, member documents, Zoom calls and webinars with the USICH and government contacts. For more information on membership email Sam Edwards today.