Makeisha Hall Model Cities

Cheryl Peterson, Listening House

Helene Freint, Minnesota Community Care

Natasha Oreskovich, StreetWorks Collaborative

Brooke Schultz, RADIAS Health (Outreach, supportive housing)

Renee Lewis Regions Hospital

Stephanie Mullen Breaking Free

Maria Wetherall Ramsey

Hello Corey Bardon, MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)

Erin Foss, The Salvation Army Booth Brown House

Nate Bordeaux - American Indian Family Center

Tenecia Trice Ramsey County Office of Housing Stability

Joan Countryman, Women's Advocate

Molly O'Rourke, Ramsey County COVID19 Incident management Operations Section

Jenn O’Connor, ED Social Worker, Region’s Hospital

LuAnne Buck, RS EDEN Corrections Division

Mark Herzfeld, Ramsey County Health and Wellness Research & Evaluation

Nick Gisi, Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities

Rich Aylward, Guild

Kim Lieberman, JustUs Health

Wendy Boppert, Catholic Charities, Saint Paul Opportunity Center

Dellenna Harper Booth Brown House, The Salvation Army

Loni Aadalen, Planning Specialist II/CoC & FHPAP Coordinator, with Ramsey County

Elizabeth Tolzmann, Ramsey County Planning Chief of Incident Management Team

Max Holdhusen, Ramsey County Housing Stability

Wendy Underwood, Catholic Charities of St. Paul & Minneapolis.

Natalie from Radias Health

Davis from Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative

Keith Lattimore, Division Director, Ramsey County Social Services

Jessica Jerney, Senior Program Evaluator, Ramsey County

Teresa Burns, Shelter Manager, Casa de Esperanza

Julie Jacobs, Choices

Kate Tobin, Tubman

John Slade, MICAH.

Also - how much testing is there in the congregate? Are people allowing/doing tests?

If residents at Mary Hall test negative for COVID will they need to leave Mary Hall?

The RFP out to other hotels is really exciting; thank you so much for your work, Max!

What is the eligibility criteria to enter Mary Hall?

If we encounter symptomatic persons while doing mobile outreach, should we refer them to the Opportunity Center for testing, or to Regions ER?

It would be great if the Elders in Shelter program could just stay at the InterContinental; moving those adults again would be challenging. Fingers crossed!

Is it based on symptoms, or are there also restrictions on the person's current housing/living setting?

can youth with symptoms be referred from the youth shelters or the youth hotel to Mary Hall?

For the youth in the hotel, what is the plan in extending beyond April 27th?

cool

Any plans for families in DV shelters?

Thanks

thank you

For Loni or Max - how are you coordinating with Saint Paul?

Awesome; thanks!

Please email Loni at loni.aadalen@co.ramsey.mn.us or at hhramseycoc@gmail.com to ensure you are on the housing/homeless listserv. Emails go out regularly around funding opportunities, shelter capacity needs, webinars, and more. Thank you!

Terry Hildebrandt - The Salvation Army

Morgan Weinert, Clinical Lead at the Downtown Clinic, Minnesota Community Care

Jessica Hancock-Allen Catholic Charities

Ulanda W.-IFS LLC/MWK Catering in partnership with Ujamaa Place

Anne McInerney, St. Paul Public Schools

Not sure why we are so limiting access to Mary Hall when there is more capacity and a back-up at Boys Totem Town; there are other congregate settings with a similar profile of at-risk individuals

Appreciate the updates, good info on status of services or actions by the county.

I am wondering about the potential hotel space for families vs singles.

Ramsey County is already doing so much, but I’m concerned about our youth and families who are symptomatic and where they will go, as well as, that families with open child protection cannot access motel program

What a daunting prospect to find 400-500 temporary beds to decompress the 3 shelter sites. And then developing the support staffing, etc.

Also curious about how hotel use is being allocated and how that can be expanded - who can make referrals? Could that be expanded beyond shelters?

Thoughts - how are people prioritizing and making available tests (this is a general in the world question as well), is there work being done to support quality of life for those who are sheltering in campsites, and will we be able to maintain levels of support for general shelter needs moving forwards.

I just wish we had more tests. Hard to feel like I cant test more aggressively

I'm coordinating staffing at the youth hotel and am wondering if there's the ability to figure out a way to do meals for the youth that doesn't have them eating in their rooms for each meal (if nobody is displaying symptoms) Currently, the rooms are getting really messy and I worry about the relationship with the hotel manager)

What we have been learning, indicated by county staff as well is the need for intensive services, beyond sheltering, for our populations in our case youth-is complex and huge. How is county social services participating in this massive housing stability efforts during the pandemic?

I wonder about families with children and where RC is in thinking about space for them.

It was helpful to hear the county's priorities. It would be helpful to state what the county "sees" and/or what they've considered. i.e. DV shelters, immigrants communities, smaller populations.

Thank you Maria!

Are we considering families and individuals who are doubled up, and can't isolate there. How can they access these spaces?

access to transit

That is a very heavy lift. Definitely will need to consider transport, people's possessions and how to track them, whether bedbug protocols need to be followed.

rules around their movement/coming and going

we need to be sure they have a way to transport and store belongings, and a clear plan to return to "home shelter" when appropriate

Mental Health concerns, addiction/chemical health issues able to support these issues.

we have a family that was caught between being processed for intake into supportive housing while one family was moving out. each family has been caught between shelter in place. how do we support both families?

Food distribution; entertainment (reasons to stay at the hotel); communication tools like a phone so information can be quickly shared with hotel guests; Trauma-informed care information for hotel staff; how to ensure people don't move BACK to shelter when it is safe to not be distanced; how do we help fewer people return to shelter.

needs for medical, mental health and chemical health; support services and staff.

meals/food

to consider: support networks. Those in congregate sites may have supportive relationshps with other residents in the shelter that could make solo rooms/moves to different sites a trigger.

masks for universal masking

location of where they end up and it's impact on work if applicable. The adjustment period and stress on them - increased mental and chemical health support needs.

laundry, access to computer

Well, first of all, are they symptomatic? Do the current spaces have thermometers? Do they have nursing staff that can listen to lung sounds, evaluate symptoms, etc? Second, would try to learn about their individual goals. What are they hoping will happen? If they have other resources, are they willing to return to family given the current crisis? Sometimes the answer might be , "Yes." If not, they would be a candidate to continue with relocation.

second the laundry concern

laundry,

Food, security, staffing, entertainment, MICD issues, how to support isolation, rules/behavior management plans, visitors, screening protocols, laundry

how will case management still happen?

Is Coordinated Entry still operating during the COVID-19 crisis?

Will the neighborhoods respond with hostility to the people who are relocating?

Julie- yes. we've had several referrals from CAHS and I had a client assessed too. It was over the phone and we had to assist in getting paperwork signed

No food is provided for families that are in motel either

Access to phones - reflecting prince's comments for the record

Please keep everyone (broader community) updated as decisions are made (transparency) so other providers know what to tell people they are working with.

Also texting options to communicate with Ramsey staff (shelter team)

Great thinking, everyone

If we are relocating folks from shelter crowding, a byproduct is that will also separate people from the support services the shelters provided. Unfortunately, this means recreating those set ups in the new locations.

please consider people who are activly using substances and not interested in sobriety. Is there a harm reduction space they can be sheltered?

We know and are hearing that African Americans are disproportionately impacted with this pandemic nationwide for obvious reasons including preexisting health conditions-what specifically is being planned to address the disparities due to these issues?

Allowing families with open child protection to access motel instead of staying in car waiting for shelter to open

Minnesota Community Care Mobile Health medical outreach and several other outreach teams are out meeting with folks. We have providers with SUD/Harm Reduction experience too. We work closely with other outreach teams to ensure coordination of care.

Meal distribution for those in encampments, access to meals, how to assess, whether/how to test people who are symptomatic. Thank you for the portable hygiene stations - increase those and consider access to any additional hygiene resources. Continue keeping encampments from being disbanded. Provide education to community members who may call city/county to complain or with concerns about encampments.

I would support self-organizing and voice for folk that are in group encampments; people will naturally align with each other and will be aware of their needs. Asking them how they want to be supported.

Some unsheltered individuals live in their cars, not in tents. We map out camp sites, so we've noticed that people are moving deeper into the woods. We need some standardized language to help these individuals and families know what is available, what is required to access these services, etc. It would be great to have a central hub where service providers can go for updated information.

Because we already have a shelter shortage, as we move people into hotels/Covid sites, aren't we just back filling the shelters? or will there be a plan to temporarily reduce numbers served in shelters to reduce people sleeping near each other.

YES

Many of our clients that are unsheltered are considered significantly high risk. I would like to see the hotel option to be extended to our unsheltered population.

Consider other health concerns when looking at shelter options. For example, breathing or asthma issues moving into congregate settings

Cultural-specific services and responses - learn from Hiawatha encampments - reflecting Natasha's comments

Shower and laundry facilities

100% agreed with Jodi about expanding hotel use.

Catholic Charities has its afternoon check-in, so I am going to log off. THANK YOU for hosting these and for your work!!

Thanks, Wendy!

Thank You Wendy!!!

Safe places for people to go during the day

They don't know abut availability.

distrust of others, being able to control their own spaces.

I also want to honor the work that outreach staff are already doing all year, connecting effectively with unsheltered people on a regular basis.

Lack of control over their lives in the system - freedom of movement, requirements for sobriety.

In the absence of in person connection, they lack the technology access to get information.

Feel safer outdoors than in the shelter

1. Desire for independence. I.e. don't want people telling them what to do, don't want to stop using, don't want to be separated from significant other, etc.

concerns about getting sick due to congregate setting. families being split up

Shelter capacity. Lack of availability.

mental health issues, CD, "too many rules", many are banned from shelter

If a client experiences being told there is no shelter multiple times, it's hard to keep coming back over and over and keep being told no.

Fear, ruler that may exist in shelters, pets or emotional support animals, partners, shelters can be noisu

ability to be with their partner of a different gender.

oops noisy,

The folks at Freedom from the Streets in St. Paul and Street Voices for Change in Minneapolis talk about this a lot.

lack of inclusive family definitions

crowded. Other people's mental health impacts the whole shelter.

Afraid to get sick with others around.

person may struggle sobriety and not want to stop using

2. Fear of theft of personal belongings

or not be in a place to stop using

Past negative experiences in shelters

3. Don't want to be 'in the system.' Might have warrants, etc.

institutional racism

close quarters. Also don't want to be in HMIS

we have recently seen many that have come from shelter to encampments - not feeling safe due to COVID - feel safer outdoors

4. Don't trust "the government." Might not have legal immigration status.

crisis, mental health, mental health, mental health

funding for case management staff

Deep increases in funding, to overcome years of austerity budgets.

ARMHS services. I am already visiting previously sheltered individuals who have been relocated to hotels in my role as an RN with an ARMHS service.

operation fundings

domestic violence services for supportive housing

rental subsidies

Clearer resource guides that have food shelves or places to go for food for housed and unhoused individuals. Longer term options for long term sustainability rather than just agencies that might give them a quick food card.

As already discussed, Case management services to respond to evolving needs of the population.

IT services for remote services

Often people who are very poor need support to take part in community processes - subsidized meals, bus tokens, stipends. If you want to center the voices of those who are experiencing the problem, those people need support.

partnerships for food (place for restaurants to sign up to donate food)

security services and resources for supportive housing services

as a primary care clinic, I vote for a prioritizing people's health care needs. If people are no longer in the building or nearby our clinics because they are relocated, how will they get the health care they need?

free internet services (data on phones, city free internet

United Way First Call for Help used to be a clearing house for community resource needs. Lately, they seem to be a beat behind. Can the County re-boot to a centralized resource for up to date information? Thanks!

Non profit providers are already struggling, increasing the capacity of current providers to do what RC cant provide currently.

telehealth mental health services

Ability to manage their health by access to health care, medications, and mental health services

Telephone access

Culturally Specific Agencies I can think of off the top of my head: Ain Dah Yung Center, Native American Community Development Institute, American Indian Community Development Corporation, Brian Coyle Center, Daryeel Youth, Alliance Wellness Center, Hmong American Partnership

day services for adults who are unsheltered

testing is available to all

need to have "legit" looking masks for youth of color (and probably adults of color). They're already experiencing racial profiling without masks.

despite quantity

We need to figure out how to increase access to services-our clients do not have phones, services and technology to "participate"

Some cultures impose great shame on heads of households or household members who cannot provide for their families, regardless of the reason. There is no way back for some of these people. They are banished from the 'tribe.' Many of them lost their jobs in the COVID crisis.

Asians are getting big grief for the 'Chinese flu'...

Testing and tracking systems of our populations to lessen transmission

Ditto the phone need, places them at risk

Considerations for LGBTQ, particularly trans

I fear a purity/impurity dynamic as we move forward - some people are 'clean' and others are seen as 'dirty,' Given the mechanics of racism, this will probably also map over racial categories.

RC needs to hear stories. We serve over 90% youth of color (specifically AA) and the barriers are real and represented.

Historic trauma and institutional racism with native American, black male, and LGBTQ communities - just wanted to reflect the last three comments

Get regular feedback from people in shelter, and listen to what they say.

engage cuturally specific programs in the planning, even if they aren't physically located in Ramsey County

Yes, as Natasha said, trauma for some people living with HIV (as COVID has similarities to HIV)

1. ensure telephone access for those without phones/or limited minutes. 2. have onsite staff available to provide support services

Eliminate the layers for efficiency - reflecting last comment

Assist women and their children who are homeless due to DV, our agency serves 90% women and children of color. DV is up 40% due to stay at home order. The emergency shelters were already always full.

Break down as many barriers as possible that are within our control

respond to basic needs responsively

The County needs to coordinate its efforts and address needs quickly.

broaden definition of family

just ask

Technology for children and youth for distance learning

Communicate info so people know where to go, how to access shelter, food, services. Can we have one place for them to go for real-time info?

Registration ConfirmedThank you for registering.You are now registered for the event: The Supportive Housing Field Responds to COVID-19You will receive a confirmation email message that contains detailed information about joining the event.1. We need to work together so we don't duplicate services. 2. We need additional funding, resources, testing, PPE, pre-packaged food, technology, etc.

safety resources

as a primary medical mental SUD care provider, we will do phone visits. contact us.

8

7

9

8

7

9

7

8

8

7

thanks

Good discussion. good leadership. Thank you.

agreed Helene

Thank you!!!