March 16, 2020
Greetings,
We are writing to share some resources and information on the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in hopes your organizations and faith groups can best navigate this rapidly changing situation. We are grateful our County has deployed their Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and are working to focus on several Human Services functions, including effects of school closure and impacts on our most vulnerable homeless residents. Our City in working closely with their EOC and trust that each of you are all vital to the success of their efforts.
Thank you for the steps you are already taking to change organizational operations and customary practices to help contain the virus. We encourage you to follow guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Governor Inslee’s Office, Snohomish County Health District, and Mayor Cassie Franklin to help slow the spread of the virus so medical providers do not become overwhelmed. We need to make sure our activities, services and methods reduce the risk for participants, staff and the general public, as unfortunately, this virus is especially life-threatening to elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
If you have a specific resources that you are currently deploying, or if you can be added to possible response efforts that the County is coordinating, such as facilities, increased program capacity, or staff time to share- please email esf6.activation@snoco.org. They are trying to gather what efforts are being done county-wide regarding child care, feeding programs, housing and sheltering, outreach, etc.
For our agencies and individuals that work with our most vulnerable homeless population, please continue to check in with appropriate agencies on the protocol for health standards, weather updates, and food distributions.
Federal guidance is available and state and local officials are providing frequent informative updates. Check their websites daily.
State Department of Health
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
Centers for Disease Control
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov
Snohomish Health District
https://snohd.org/ncov2019
City of Everett COVID-19
https://www.everettwa.gov/2561/COVID-19
Below are a number of resources to help you manage and make decisions:
Resources for small business -- https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releases-media-advisories/sba-provide-disaster-assistance-loans-small-businesses-impacted-coronavirus-covid-19
Also: https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources/covid-19-resources-businesses-and-workers?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Resources for Community organizations serving at risk community members --- https://www.snohd.org/498/COVID-19-Info-for-Community-Organization
Resources for serving homeless shelters and permanent supportive housing ---- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/homeless-shelters/plan-prepare-respond.html
Resources for employers --- https://www.snohd.org/492/COVID-19-Info-for-BusinessesEmployers
In addition, we encourage you to support those who are self-isolating at home.
Supportive actions include:
- Daily re-assurance phone calls, and daily phone trees
- Checking in on neighbors
- Making grocery deliveries and leaving items at the door
- Doing other errands for those staying at home
- Checking in with those working from home
- Using social media, email, Skype, Zoom, phone conference calls or other tools can reduce in person meetings but still lend social support and interaction
- Sending newsletters or sermons via email or U.S. mail
- Setting up pre-arranged, small group sessions, meals or worship services, in smaller gatherings to allow people to maintain social distancing, but stay connected
We also encourage you to share what is working best for your agencies and the people you work with directly. If you begin to see noticeable improvement in care, morale, supply distribution, etc., please consider letting us know so that we can share these tips and tricks with others in the community.
Together our community can respond with care, compassion, and thoughtful choices as we collaborate to get through this difficult challenge.
If you have questions or need additional resources, or suggestions, please reach out and we will help get you connected as best we can.
Sincerely,
City of Everett Community Development Team
A pdf version of this notice can be found here.
