Unhoused Alamedans to be placed in housing during COVID-19 pandemic
Published on April 27, 2020
Earlier this month, the City of Alameda received four trailers from the State of California to provide housing for up to eight people who are unhoused during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trailers, located at Alameda Point in the parking lot on AUSD property on W. Essex, will provide stable housing to people who are unhoused and non-symptomatic for COVID-19 during the shelter in place order.
Residents for the trailers are identified by staff from Operation Dignity and Building Futures, who are very familiar with the Alameda population of unsheltered individuals. In addition to housing, residents will be supported with daily check-ins from the City’s homeless mobile outreach team (Operation Dignity) and the Alameda Police Department (APD) Homeless Liaison Officers. A paramedic will also conduct a wellness check four days a week, Monday through Thursday.
This week, the City is providing all the basic necessities to furnish the trailers prior to move in, as well as utility connections and weekly food and laundry services. For any residents who have a pet, FAAS is providing, at no cost, an initial pet health check with vaccinations and licensing as well as any supplies needed such as food, bedding, leashes, and flea medicine. This program is currently funded for nine months and will be re-assessed on an ongoing basis and at the end of nine months to determine subsequent options.
In addition to providing housing in these trailers, Alameda County launched two housing resource programs, called Operation Comfort and Project Safer Ground, to shelter individuals who are unhoused during the COVID-19 pandemic in designated hotels. These programs are part of a larger State initiative called Project Room Key, administered by the California Department of Social Services.
Operation Comfort prioritizes those who test positive for COVID-19, present with symptoms and signs consistent with a possible COVID-19 infection, or who have had verified contact with a person with a known COVID-19 infection. Operation Dignity and Building Futures are designated to refer individuals to the County programs. Individuals placed in Operation Comfort hotels are provided comprehensive care and support during their quarantine. Two individuals in Alameda that self-reported being exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 are now quarantined at an Operation Comfort hotel in Oakland.
Project Safer Ground offers emergency housing for unhoused individuals at high risk of developing acute disease or complications from COVID-19 exposure due to personal risk factors and their current living situation. This group includes persons over the age of 60 and/or persons with a variety of specific health conditions including certain heart, lung, blood, neurological disorders, pregnancy, and other conditions. Ten people in Alameda qualified for Project Safer Ground and are currently staying at the Radisson in Oakland.