Homelessness Care Providers

CA Safe Reopening

To protect all of our most vulnerable citizens during this challenging time, the County of Orange is working with a diverse group of stakeholders including cities, nonprofits and faith-based organizations to prevent COVID-19 illnesses and outbreaks in persons experiencing homelessness. The information below provides guidance to assist our community partners in their COVID-19 response.

Recommendations for Homeless Shelters

Develop a COVID-19 Prevention Plan

All homeless shelters in Orange County should have a plan to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 into their facilities. This plan should include measures to assure adequate physical distancing, educate staff and clients about COVID-19, and respond to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases.  A summary of critical measures can be found in HCA’s Shelter COVID-19 Checklist.

Vaccinate Shelter Staff and Residents

Vaccination is the most effective way to protect against COVID-19 for persons staying at and working in shelter sites. The HCA can provide assistance for facilities that are interested in arranging vaccination events at their sites.  Interested facilities should contact HCA at 714-567-6246.

Wear Masks Consistently

Universal masking continues to be recommended in homeless shelter indoor settings by Orange County Health Care Agency. However, masking is no longer required; the California State Public Health Officer order issued on September 20, 2022 discontinued this mandate.

Masking continues to be a critical measure to prevent spread of COVID-19.  Masking using a higher-level respirators (e.g., N95s, KN95s, KF94s) with good fit provide the greatest protection.  Alternatively, if a higher-level respiratory is not available, surgical masks may be used.

Conduct Routine Laboratory Screening

Homeless shelter settings are high-risk environments for the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Regular screening of staff and residents is not mandated by HCA; shelter facilities may however elect to routinely screen staff and residents to identify or control outbreaks of COVID-19 in these settings. If performed, this screening should be conducted at least weekly.

Response screening of staff and residents should be performed when clusters of cases or outbreaks are identified.

Prevent Introduction of COVID-19 Into Shelters

Resident interaction in the community setting outside of a shelter poses risks for introducing the virus into shelter settings.  Facilities should have policies regarding resident activities outside the shelter which balance the rights, quality of life, and health of shelter residents with the need to limit the risk for COVID-19 introduction.

The updated California State Public Health Order no longer mandates physical distancing in shelter settings.  However, in line with CDC guidance, HCA continues to strongly recommend that regardless of vaccination status, all clients, staff, and volunteers should continue maintaining physical distance in shelters as much as possible. Specific recommendations include:

Recommendations for common areas

  • Encourage dining and other group activities to take place outdoors as much as possible; this is especially true for dining since masks must be removed for eating or drinking.
  • In indoor common areas, practice physical distancing whenever possible,  including seating in shared indoor dining areas or other indoor group activities.
  • Members of the same household can sit together indoors without distancing but should be distanced from other individuals to the extent possible.
  • Stagger the schedule to reduce crowding for use of:
    • Shared dining areas
    • Common areas such as kitchens, living spaces, and recreation areas.
    • Bathing facilities
  • Educate clients and staff on basic infection control measures for respiratory infections, including hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, and cough etiquette.
  • Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cleaning and disinfection guidelines for community facilities, and cleaning facilities if someone is sick.
  • Place signs throughout the facility with reminders about hand hygiene, required masking, cough etiquette, and reporting any symptoms to staff.

Recommendations for sleeping areas

  • Mats/cots/beds for clients who are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should be arranged so that clients lie head-to-toe relative to each other and are distanced as feasible.
  • No physical distancing is required between members of the same household.

Management of symptomatic clients

For clients with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, testing should be conducted as soon as possible, and such clients should be isolated until test results are known. If such clients cannot be placed in individual rooms, ensure physical distancing from asymptomatic clients.

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