How can persons experiencing homelessness find shelter during COVID-19?
As Los Angeles navigates through its response to COVID-19, it has established some resources for unhoused persons.
- Project Roomkey is a collaborative effort by the State, County and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to secure hotel and motel rooms for vulnerable people experiencing homelessness. By providing shelter for high-risk individuals who do not have reliable housing, Project Roomkey also helps to prevent the spread of the deadly virus in our communities and protect the capacity of our hospitals and healthcare system. To qualify, individuals must be 65 years of age or older or have underlying medical conditions or be medically compromised. To participate, clients must be referred to the program by a homeless services provider, health care provider, law enforcement, or other service provider.
- There is also medical sheltering, using hotels and motels throughout the County, available for eligible individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 and must isolate and need assistance from the County to do so. Users include, but are not limited to, people experiencing homelessness. To qualify, clients must have tested positive for COVID-19 or show symptoms of COVID-19 (for example have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing) and/or are waiting for their test results.County medical sheltering sites will accept individuals from the local community that are referred through DPH. The socio-economic status of individuals needing medical sheltering is not a determining factor in terms of who gets placed. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 and are need of a place to Isolate and Quarantine, please call toll Free 1-833-540-0473: Operators are standing by to assist you Monday-Sunday, 8AM-8:30 PM.
For more information, go to: LA Public Health