- 20 new cases
- 416 total cases
- 207 recovered cases
- 21 people in the hospital
- 8 people ICU
- 196 people under quarantine
- 13 deaths
- 7, 207 people tested
California Governor Gavin Newsom provided a press conference today with an update on Project Roomkey, the state’s initiative to provide safe isolation capacity for Californians experiencing homelessness in order to protect them from COVID-19. He mentioned the County of Ventura and other Counties that have been working to meet these needs.
The County of Ventura, with guidance from the California Department of Public Health, has been taking steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable populations in the community. The County secured housing options, at the beginning of the emergency situation, at local motels in the cities of Ventura, Oxnard and Newbury Park. County agencies are coordinating to provide transportation, medical and mental health care, nutritional needs and on-site security. Referrals are made by community homeless service providers including nonprofit organizations, county service providers, city partners and homeless liaison officers. Persons are medically evaluated before they are cleared for intake.
“We are trying to place persons in a location near their home community whenever possible and commit to helping individuals reconnect with that community when it is safe to do so,” said Tara Carruth, Program Manager with the Ventura County Continuum of Care. “Facilities of at-risk individuals are supported by the Human Services Agency as the site lead, meals are provided and there is 24/7 security on-site. Our County Health Care Agency partners including Whole Person Care and the Healthcare for the Homeless and Backpack Medicine team are also assisting to support these efforts. We are encouraging nonprofit partners and other community partners to also support their clients if placed in these locations while practicing safe social distancing,” she added.
We have been able to place more than 255 people in motels and continue to accept referrals for people that meet the high-risk criteria of 65+ and those with serious health conditions. We are working to place 100-150 more people who have been identified through our partners.
United Way has 18 veterans that don’t meet the high-risk criteria placed in motels and has raised funds for hygiene kits that backpack medicine is distributing during outreach.
Our shelters and transitional housing programs have 450 persons in their programs.
Our One Stop programs continue to operate and provide basic hygiene and healthcare services.
Our nonprofit partners throughout the region continue to provide food, showers, laundry and linkages to housing, shelter and motel placements.
Learn more about local resources for the unsheltered at https://www.vcemergency.com/homeless or by calling 2-1-1.
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