Emerging
Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.

Lessons Learned through Implementing SARS-CoV-2 Testing and Isolation for People Experiencing Homelessness in Congregate Shelters

Denver Joint Task Force on Homelessness (Scott, E., Rowan, S., Chandler, K., Fisher, A., Hill, B., Hill, J., Marx, G.E., Farrell, E., Wendel, K., Stella, S.A.,

Release Date:

Case Study

Organizational Change/ Development
Outreach/ Education/ Communications
Testing
Healthcare Access and Quality
Neighborhood and Built Environment
Tools Included
Outside U.S.
ACCESS RESOURCE
Building

Infrastructure Support

This paper describes how a local public health agency joined a multi-sector community partnership made up of community-based organizations, clinical providers, peer navigators, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness. Together, this group created a strategic plan to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on people experiencing homelessness. They prioritized education, increased resource allocation and testing in shelters, and slated housing for those who tested positive or those at increased risk of COVID-19 complications. Most of this work took place in shelters.

Resource Details

Outcomes of Interest

Partnership Building, Reduction of Health Disparities

Priority Population(s)

People Experiencing Homelessness, People Living in Congregate Housing

Setting(s) of Implementation

Geographic Area of Implementation

Urban

Implementation Period

2020-Present