Emergency Housing Options
COORDINATED ENTRY:
• For the duration of the COVID-19 process, the emergency housing process has been altered slightly to give priority isolation to those people at most risk for complications from COVID-19.
• General Referrals: Those who are experiencing a housing crisis should continue to seek help by calling 211, emailing ceteam@impactinc.org, or stopping by the Navigation Center at 1918 N 6th Street from 1-4pm Tuesdays, and 8am-noon Wednesday-Friday. They will receive an assessment and appropriate referrals. Whenever possible, navigators will assist the person to stay-in-place or, in the case of someone who is sleeping on the streets, move toward safety.
• Shelter Referrals: Emergency shelter referrals continue through the usual process- through the emergency shelter placement call Monday-Friday. Participants will need to arrive before 6pm to allow for proper screening and possible referral to COVID-specific resources.
o Before being referred to emergency shelter, every household will be screened for COVID symptoms or being at-risk for complications of COVID. If at any time during the emergency shelter stay (upon intake or afterward), it is clear that the household is either symptomatic or at-risk for complications of COVID, the shelter will initiate a referral to a different resource.
• Clare Hall Referrals: If a person experiencing homelessness or housing instability is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 (a persistent cough and/or shortness of breath AND a temperature above 99 degrees), street outreach, coordinated entry, or shelter staff will refer to Clare Hall. While the referral is in process, the person will wear a mask and will stay in one area so as to reduce potential spread.
o The program manager will email the CE team at ceteam@impactinc.org with a
description of the person and their symptoms. The CE team will facilitate the referral process, including first dispatching an on-call nurse to check vitals and rule out the need to go to a medical facility. (People coming from street outreach may be able to use the Navigation Center as a place to meet with a nurse.) The CE Team will then facilitate the referral and transportation to Clare Hall. After 8pm, program managers should text Emily Kenney directly at 414-335-0443.
• Emergency Hotel Voucher Referrals: The purpose of hotel rooms is to 1) increase hospital capacity by allowing healthy people without stable housing in hospitals to be safely discharged; 2) give people who are sleeping in shelters or outdoors/places not meant for human habitation AND at high-risk of contracting COVID an immediate, safe, and isolated place to be; 3) provide additional capacity for what usually would be covered by emergency shelters, so that emergency shelters can follow CDC guidelines for social distancing; 4) prevent/divert someone from the formal homeless system. Hotel rooms are for people who are NOT symptomatic.
o Point people have been established for the 3 populations covered
here: Stephanie Nowak is point for people sleeping outdoors; Emily
Whitcomb is point for people in hospitals; Emily Kenney is point for people who need prevention services.
• All other referrals will be staffed during the daily (Monday-Friday) prevention navigation or shelter placement calls and will be potentially placed in shelter and/or available hotel rooms based on capacity, vulnerability, and what’s in the best interest of the client.
Coordinated Entry is putting a voicemail on the 2-1-1 housing line after 9pm if it isn't picked up by a CRS within 90 seconds that states that they aren't referring into shelter during these hours but to please leave a message and we will call back. They will follow up for prevention/diversion strategies for all who leave messages.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS:
• They are open & will be accepting 3 women 18+ for shelter.
• They are open: Thursday – Sunday 9 pm – 8 am
• Call up to an hour before for admittance 414-800-6269
WAUKESHA WOMEN’S CENTER:
• Shelter & Hotline running 24/7: 262-542-3828
• Ongoing advocacy is remotely
• In shelter, staff wearing masks; always wearing gloves (before or after c19)
• Clients given masks; cleaning materials are passed out
• Limiting the number of people in a room at a time
• Encouraging people to stay in more often - which makes for more snack foods there than usual 🙂
• Shared rooms still in 32 bed facility - shared rooms on a limited basis (following the number of people per room per CDC guideline)
• 32 beds, however may say "full" even if there are open beds based on case-by-case situation of people at shelter currently (e.g. client need, family size, etc) - this is the same before or after c-19.
HEBRON HOUSE:
• All Waukesha shelters open
• https://hebronhouse.org/shelters/
• Emergency Shelter: 262-549-8722
• Office: 262-549-8720