In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, IHCDA and the Balance of State Continuum of Care board would like to communicate guidance, resources, and assistance available to those in the BoS CoC.  Below you will find the updates from both IHCDA and the CoC BoS board. Below you will find a list of state and federal resources as well as best practices from other CoCs and cities.

• Please click here to access 2020-2021 Winter Guidance.
• Please click here to access the Winter Contingency Plans by Region
• Please click here to access additional COVID-19 resources and guidance. (updated June 26, 2020)

CoC BoS Updates

The CoC BoS board recommends that homeless service providers follow the guidance from the CDC and Indiana State Department of Health. This includes thinking through quarantine shelters and offering motel/hotel stays to those affected by a coronavirus. In addition, organizations should think through engaging community partners, creating an emergency response plan, updating key contacts, and preparing their organizations in the following ways:

• General guidance:
  • Click here to access a variety of state and federal resources. Click here to access guidance from CSH. We encourage you to utilize these tools and implement best practices in your community.
  • Work with local officials (i.e. health departments, city/county government, hospital/medical facilities).
  • Work within your region and city/county to coordinate care (i.e. one quarantined shelter). Continue to conduct regional meetings but do so remotely.
  • For those not teleworking: Set up sanitizing stations and signs around symptoms for COVID-19; practice social distancing; create policies/procedures for what to do if someone has symptoms (either organization’s staff or clients).
• Guidance for case management and in-person services:
  • Attempt to do over the phone or virtually if possible.
  • If a case manager is sick, try not to allow them to meet with individuals.
  • Use gloves or remote pick-up options for food/clothing services.
• Guidance for shelters:
  • Move beds to 6 feet apart if possible. Individuals should sleep head to foot.
  • Find spaces to quarantine individuals who have symptoms.
  • Work with other organizations (i.e. clinics) to screen individuals and assist with care.
• COC RRH/PSH Clients:
  • Continue case management but attempt to do so over the phone or web.
  • Encourage residents to self-isolate and reduce contact with others during this time.
  • Prepare residents with up-to-date information and communication around COVID-19.

IHCDA Updates

• Overall updates:
  • IHCDA staff is currently out of office, teleworking, but at 100% capacity.
  • The staff will take all calls/meetings remotely via conference call or webinar
• Grants (CoC/HOPWA/TANF/ESG) Updates:
  • IHCDA can be flexible and lenient during this time but we ask that you keep our program staff updated if the outbreak will affect the submission of claims, working with tenants, etc.
  • Even with these changes, sub-recipients should still plan to submit claims, reports, etc. to IHCDA as planned.
  • Until further notice, all grant monitoring will be completed as desktop reviews (files sent to IHCDA).
• HMIS Updates:
  • Remote work is allowed for HMIS data submissions (Click here for guidance).
  • New user webinars and open office hours will still occur as planned via webinar.
  • Updates will be provided to site administrators and the newsfeed as procedures are revisited.
  • Until further notice, all HMIS trainings will be held online or on a conference call.