Coronavirus: $3.5M going to help Merced County’s homeless. Confirmed cases reach 78
Officials reported during Tuesday’s Merced County Board of Supervisors meeting that the county is devoting $3.5 million to help care for — and shelter — the homeless population due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As of Wednesday morning, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 76, up from 74 the previous evening, according to County Public Health. Recoveries also rose by two to 26. Later Wednesday afternoon, those numbers were updated to 78 confirmed cases.
There are 49 confirmed active COVID-19 cases in Merced County as of Wednesday morning, meaning people who are essentially still sick.
County Human Services Agency Director Yvonnia Brown presented updates Tuesday concerning the county’s approach to addressing the needs for the homeless during the health crisis.
Brown said the plan is comprehensive, and involves multiple partnerships from various departments.
Homeless people are considered especially vulnerable during the pandemic because they lack the necessary shelter to safely shelter-in.
No impact to the general fund
The overall project to assist the homeless includes a 90-day timeframe and $3.5 million budget. County officials say that doesn’t impact the county’s general fund
The money is a mixture of funding from multiple sources, including new funds from the state received on account of the pandemic, according to County HSA Public Information Officer Kimiko Vang.
Other portions are redirected funding the state had not yet obligated, and authorized to redirection to COVID-19 programs like the state housing program Project Roomkey.
Merced County homeless individuals will be housed in area hotels during the coronavirus crisis through Project Roomkey. It’s a program that allows local governments to receive up to 75% cost-share reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Project Roomkey in Merced is funded by a combination of new and redirected money, according to Vang.
It includes $593,000 redirected by the Merced City and County Continuum of Care, $118,500 new COVID-19 CoC funding, $109,000 new COVID-19 County Funding, $1.15 million Behavioral Health and Recovery Services redirected homeless funding, $598,000 HSA funding and $288,000 BHRS funding.
“This redirection of these funds will not impact current program and services,” Vang said in an email to the Sun-Star.
How Project Roomkey will work locally
The program is divided into three phases based on funding, with 64 individuals being housed in the first phase. The hope is to reach 200 individuals through the program.
Merced County Rescue Mission will be providing on-site management at the hotels in addition to HSA staff providing on-site and on-call support, according to the presentation.
Brown said staff has the proper PPE (personal protective equipment) it needs to engage with at-risk communities in a safe way for everyone involved.
Area hospitals discharging homeless persons are coordinating with Public Health and Care and Shelter to house them once released. This also includes providing daily needs, such as three meals a day.
Homeless individuals are housed on a basis that’s strictly voluntary. The county cannot force anyone to remain in the temporary shelters if they wish to leave.
Project Roomkey will only shelter homeless in area hotels during the COVID-19 crisis, Brown said. The program is not intended to continue once the coronavirus threat passes.
The Board also passed two items Tuesday that approved a $710,722 budget transfer to Continuum of Care to house homeless people during the pandemic and two budget transfers totaling $259,013 to HSA. Each item is associated with Project Roomkey.
The board also ratified $342,073 in one-time funding to the county from the state for COVID-19 crisis response allocation.
County Public Health also provided data about other vulnerable populations. About 26,000 households in the county have residents with disabilities. Individuals over age 65 make up 30,000 residents. Around 5,800 households do not have access to a vehicle.
The county’s website now has a HelpHub tab for those able to give help or in need of assistance. The county reported that 45 individuals have requested aid and 74 have volunteered.
This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 12:16 PM.
