Detroit CoC COVID-19 Community Page

Quick Questions?

Call Detroit Health Department (24 Hours): 313-876-4000
Call MDHHS (Daily 8am - 5pm): 1-888-535-6136
Submit a question to HUD - Email: answers@hud.gov

Access our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Submit a Question to be added to the FAQ

Access the CoC's Compilation of resources

Highlights of CoC System Changes

Summary of Detroit’s Response

NEW: COVID-19 Guidance for Supportive Housing Providers

Waiver Opportunities for CoC Programs

On Wednesday, April 1, HUD released guidance on available waivers to provide flexibility for CoC Programs in light of the challenges presented by COVID-19. Please click here for an updated summary of the waiver opportunities, guidance for how to notify HUD of your intent to use a waiver, and a template you can use for your notification. Please also note the following things:

The waivers are intended to reduce burdens on clients and staff and expedite moving people into housing as quickly as possible.
If your agency would like to utilize these waivers, you must notify HUD of your intent to do so at least two calendar days prior to using the waiver. You do not need to get HUD’s approval, but you do need to give them a two-day notice of your intent. Details are in the linked document above. Also included is template language you may use for this notification.
Notification of intent to utilize a waiver must be submitted by the grantee (ie, your agency). It is not something the CoC can submit on behalf of all providers.
The notification must be sent to CPD_COVID-19WaiverDET@HUD.gov. Please cc amanda@handetroit.org on any waivers you submit.
It is recommended your agency submits for these waivers, even if it is currently unknown the extent to which they will be needed. Doing so will provide more flexibility across programs and across our CoC.
Please reach out to amanda@handetroit.org with any questions you have about these waivers.

IMPORTANT NOTE: These waivers are for CoC funded programs. The waivers for ESG funded programs must be submitted by the City of Detroit, as they are the ESG recipient. HAND is working with the City on that waiver request.

Coordinated Entry

CAM Access Point Changes

In response to COVID-19 and in consultation with the Detroit CoC Board, HAND, the City of Detroit, MDHHS, and ESP — CAM is taking several steps to reduce risk to clients and staff as much as possible. CAM processes are changing daily to adapt to the needs of the Detroit CoC. Please check CAM’s website regularly (linked here) for the most up-to-date information. As of Monday, March 23, CAM has switched to call-only referrals. Clients seeking shelter can call 313-305-0311.

*October of 2020 hours and days changed. Now lines are open Monday - Friday, 9am-6pm; and Saturday, 10am-3pm. Lines are closed Sunday. Click this flyer for more information.

In-Person Navigation Suspended

As of Monday, March 16, CAM has ceased face-to-face navigation activities (we do encourage for navigators to engage with clients over the phone and through other creative means, however).

Changes to the HCV Process

Verbal ROIs for HCV Homeless Preference are acceptable at this time. Staff should note the use of a verbal ROI on the standard HCV ROI document.
Re-certifications of homelessness can be acquired by phone or email contact but information of current homeless location must be detailed and descriptive.
- Effective 3/20/20, deadlines for re-certifications of homelessness for all current applications will be extended an additional 60 days during the period of the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order. New applications completed during this time will still be subject to the 120-day re-certification deadline and all future re-certifications will still need to be completed within the 30-day window prior to the deadline.
The timeline to complete HCV Homeless Preference applications is extended from 5 days to 30 business days until further notice.

Shelter and Congregate Care

Guidance for Operations During COVID-19

The City of Detroit developed interim guidance on March 13 for Detroit CoC Shelters. We expect TH and PSH Providers who serve clients in congregate settings to follow the guidance too. You can access it by clicking here. Supplemental guidance was released on March 24th and can be accessed by clicking here. The city of Detroit also hosted two webinars to discuss this guidance. You can access them by clicking here – 3/13/2020 and here – 3/16/2020.

Expectation to Operate As if Under Code Blue

Shelters and congregate care providers are expected to operate under the Code Blue Mandates as outlined in the Detroit CoC’s Severe Weather Policy (linked here). Some particular guidelines to be aware of include the following:

During the pandemic, shelters are to remain open 24/7. If any provider has trouble providing 3 meals a day for clients, please reach out to Lauren Licata with the city of Detroit (lauren.licata@detroitmi.gov).
No shelter suspensions or bans can be carried out during the “stay home, stay safe” Executive Order. Clients are to be provided shelter if they present after CAM’s operating hours. Clients can call the CAM the following day for an alternative shelter bed. If a client becomes physically violent, staff are encouraged to call the police.
Discourage clients from leaving the shelter during the day and at night. Make sure to be educating clients about COVID-19, it’s seriousness and how it spreads, the risk factors that make someone susceptible to complications, the Governor’s Executive Order to “stay home, stay safe”, and any other pertinent information they need to understand the seriousness of our current situation.
Follow the isolation and transportation protocol that was sent to providers via email on 3/21 and 3/23.

Suspension of 90-day Funding Limit (Emergency Shelter Partnership - ESP - Funding)

The 90 night billing limit per fiscal year for shelters will be waived until future notice. This change in policy is effective immediately. Salvation Army is working to update the ESP billing report so clients with stays over 90 nights will continue to be counted. This update should be completed by the time March billing reports are submitted in April. They will keep grant recipients posted on the name of the new report once created. The waiver of this policy is done in hopes that movement of clients from one shelter to another will be limited to help prevent any possible spread or carry of the coronavirus. Clients should not be exited due to reaching any sort of 90 night limit as funding will continue beyond that time frame.

Supportive Housing Programs

RRH 12-month limit Relaxed (including grandfathered 18-month limit clients)

We know that the CoC Board recently approved an RRH policy update which limited financial assistance to CoC and City-funded RRH clients to 12 months. In light of the rising financial uncertainty many Michiganders are facing across the state due to COVID-19, the CoC and the City are relaxing this limit. If an RRH client is nearing 12 months of financial assistance and would be put at risk of returning to homelessness due to the cessation of support, we encourage you to continue providing assistance (up to HUD’s 24-month limit). This same relaxation applies to clients nearing the formerly imposed 18-month limit as well.

Please note: HUD is not currently able to lift the 24 month limit as that is statutory and requires legislative action. For organizations with clients immediately impacted by the 24-month RRH and TH caps, please contact your local HUD CPD rep for specific guidance.

MSHDA ESG Changes

Rental Assistance —

The 6-month cap for RRH rental assistance is currently extended to 9-months. Please be aware that without direction from HUD, the Homeless Prevention rental assistance cap cannot be extended.

Forms —

ESG grantees can accept verbal "signatures" on ESG forms during this time. Just make sure to:

Notate as "verbal signature" for each form completed.
Provide staff initials and date when collecting the verbal signature.
Track verbal signatures and plan to secure actual signatures on ESG forms when feasible and safe to do so.

Inspections —

It is still necessary to complete a Habitability Standards Inspection, however, inspections can be conducted virtually as long as the Habitability Standards can be checked and completed in real time. For example, landlords could use FaceTime or other platforms to engage directly with agency staff and walk through the unit to demonstrate each requirement and standard of the inspection checklist.

Note: Inspections of occupied units can be postponed until the unit can be safely accessed.

CoC Competition

We are actively working to adjust our local competition — where we are able — to reduce the burden on our CoC providers as much as we can in light of the added strain COVID-19 has caused. For updates on COVID-19 related changes to the local competition, please visit this page.

Veteran Services

The latest update from the VA regarding homeless services unique to veterans can be found by clicking here. Please note: walk-in referrals are no longer being accepted during COVID-19. For assistance, please call 313-576-1580 daily from 0800-1800.