11-04-2020 Emergency ShelterSevere Weather Shelter
Update
City Council
November 4, 2020
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Severe
Weather
Shelter and
COVID-19
▪Balance the threat severe weather causes to the life
and safety of people experiencing homelessness
with the risks associated with COVID-19.
•Congregate shelters present chance spreading
COVID-19
•People experiencing homelessness are more likely
to be exposed to COVID-19 as they are more likely
to be in congregate settings or have inadequate
access to measures to reduce their chance of getting
the virus
•People experiencing homelessness are more likely
to have conditions leading to higher risk of
complications due to COVID-19
▪The City plans to offer shelter to mitigate the risk
of severe weather while modifying how the shelter
is run to be as safe as possible and minimize
spreading of COVID-19
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Activation
Policy
▪Activated when at least one other severe weather
shelter in King County has been activated and:
•Low temperatures fall below 32 degrees for at least
24 consecutive hours or more, and/or
•Snow accumulation exceeds or is expected to
exceed three (3) inches in depth, and/or
•Other conditions deemed severe enough to present
a substantial threat to the life or health of homeless
persons are present in Federal Way
•Severe weather shelters open for a minimum of two
nights with additional nights added when weather
conditions continue to meet the activation policy.
•Hours are site dependent, usually falling between
the hours of 9 pm and 7 am with some adjustments
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Adapting
Shelter for
COVID-19
▪Physical distancing
•Increase distance between cots
•Will decrease capacity and warrants new locations
for this year as the past three sites are too small to
meet anticipated shelter needs
▪Masks required
•Masks will be required while in the shelter
▪Hand washing and hand sanitizer
•Hand washing will be encouraged and hand sanitizer
available
▪Cleaning protocols
•Staff will follow existing enhanced cleaning protocols
during the shelter opening
•On a daily basis, the shelter will be cleaned following
enhanced cleaning protocols after the shelter closes
o i.e. use of the Clorox sanitizing machine
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Additional
Considerations
▪Screening
•Temperature screening and other questions such as
asking about coughing and fatigue that are outside of
their normal can be used
•Many people experiencing homelessness have these
symptoms regularly without COVID-19
•Remaining Question: How will the shelter handle
someone who reports and/or exhibits symptoms that are
not their baseline? Potential isolation on site, use of
COVID line, and quarantine sites
▪Contact Tracing
•It is more likely to be difficult to have follow up contact
with people accessing severe weather shelter as they are
less likely to be engaged in other services
•This presents a barrier for contact tracing
▪Capacity
•In the past, if a shelter was at capacity and someone else
arrived seeking shelter, they would regularly make room.
With COVID-19, this is not likely to be possible
•Remaining Question: What is the policy if more people
seek shelter than the initial site capacity was set at?
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Additional
Considerations
-Continued
▪Location
•Developing a plan for potential sites including the
Community Center and local churches
•Working with Public Health for site visits and evaluation;
a report will be provided with some site specific
recommendations
•Site visits include an evaluation of ventilation and air flow
as well as other general recommendations/information to
consider for operation
•Transition to and from shelter on a daily basis is part of
the decision making process for how to implement
shelter and selecting the best location.
o Vacant or largely unused sections of buildings are best.
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Additional
Considerations
-Continued
▪Staffing
•Catholic Community Services (CCS) was the provider
for the City and other cities in past years
•Like many service providers, especially those working
with people experiencing homelessness, there are often
expanded hours to address lack of other open services
and/or more staffing needs due to sanitizing and clearing
protocols.
•If a provider has staff out due to COVID-19 exposure, it
could be problematic
•City is working with CCS and other regional jurisdictions
to plan for staffing needs
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Questions?
City Council
November 4, 2020
Staff Contacts: Sarah Bridgeford, Community Services Manager
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