2013 KENTUCKY INCLUSIVE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CONFERENCE

APRIL 26, 2013

Planning and Preparing for Homeless and Rural Poor Populations

Sabrina Edgington, MSSW, Program and Policy Sabrina Edgington, MSSW, Program and Policy SpecialistSpecialistNational Health Care for the Homeless CouncilNational Health Care for the Homeless Council

Sheltered: emergency shelters, domestic violence shelters, transitional housing, supportive housing

Unsheltered: streets, camps, cars, abandoned buildings

Doubled up: temporarily living with family and friends

Chronically homeless: An unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for a year or more OR has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.

Continuum of Care (CoC): A collaborative funding and planning approach that helps communities plan for and provide, as necessary, a full range of emergency, transitional, and permanent housing and other service resources to address the various needs of homeless persons. HUD also refers to the group of service providers involved in the decision making processes as the ‘‘Continuum of Care.’’

TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW

KY CONTINUUM OF CARE REGIONS

FINDING CITY & COUNTY STATISTICS

HUD CoC Reports: http://www.hudhre.info/index.cfm?do=viewHomelessRpts

KY Interagency Council on Homelessness, K-Count Results: www.kyhousing.org/page.aspx?id=2323

2013 STATE STATISTICS (POINT IN TIME)

Kentucky

Total homeless 5245

Sheltered 4475

Unsheltered 754

Characteristics (disability related) Total

Substance use 1,398

Serious Mental Illness 880

Chronically homeless 520

Source: KY Interagency Council on Homelessness, K-Count Results: www.kyhousing.org/page.aspx?id=2323

AVAILABLE BEDS FOR HOMELESS KENTUCKIANS (ES, TH, SH)

HOMELESS YOUTH IN KENTUCKY

Source: http://nchespp.serve.org/profile/KY

Enrolled in SY 2010-11: 33,966 (annual estimate)

HIGH DISASTER RISK

HAZARD X VULNERABILITY = DISASTER RISK

Limited access to media outlets to receive emergency communication

Limited resources to take risk deduction measures

Laws that criminalize homelessness push people out of public areas making them harder to reach

Most shelters are closed during the day

Lack of transportation for evacuation

Poor social support networksHigh prevalence of mental illness,

trauma, disability

VULNERABILITIES CONTRIBUTING TO DISASTER RISK

Include homeless service organizations and people experiencing homelessness in emergency planning meetings, exercises, and events

Work with homeless service organizations to tailor emergency messages and instructions

Ensure that homeless service representatives are included in communication blasts

Assist homeless service providers in developing an interagency emergency plan.

Promote CERT trainings for homeless outreach teamsAssist homeless service organizations in developing peer-led

trainings to prepare people who are experiencing homelessness for emergencies

INCLUSIVE EMERGENCY PLANNING

EMERGENCY MESSAGING

Before a storm, have a 3- to 5-day supply of nonperishable food and clean drinking water. 

“To help maintain your body temperature in cold weather, drink warm, sweet beverages and broth, and eat a well-balanced diet.”

inform local authorities about any special needs before a hurricane

strikes. 

“Be prepared! Pack your emergency supply kit with essential first aid items such as bandages, antibiotic ointment, scissors, etc.”

“Make plans in advance to secure your home.  Protect your windows by installing storm shutters or board up windows with plywood.”

MOST EMERGENCY MESSAGING IS TAILORED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TAKE RISK REDUCTION MEASURES:

HELPFUL EMERGENCY MESSAGING

Tips:Include actions to take, not just actions to avoidUse simple messagesBe as specific as possibleUse language representative of the communityUse trauma informed communication

Basic information for emergency preparedness flyers:If using flyers, use large font and include a couple of graphicsList shelters that will be open during emergenciesAccommodations for petsPick up points for evacuation or to a shelterHow to access information about the emergencyServices available at the shelterBasic safety tips

HELPFUL EMERGENCY MESSAGING

Avoid food that’s been contaminated by flood water. Food and clean water will be available at Union shelter.

Alcohol can increase your risk of frostbite.

“If caught in a tornado, seek shelter in a sturdy building or lie flat in a ditch to avoid flying debris. DO NOT get under a bridge or overpass.”

“Medical teams will be available at Union shelter to replace any lost medications or to look at any injuries.”

“Union shelter will have designated areas and food for pets.”

Union shelter will open during the day when there is a tornado watch or

warning.

LOGISTICS SAFETY TIPS

Identify communication chain: VAL/PIO → lead HSO(s) → all HSOs → people experiencing homelessness

Designate homeless service organizations (HSOs) to various geographical areas to communicate emergencies and assist in evacuation (using trained outreach teams)

Identify emergency shelters that will open its doors during emergencies (make sure people know about this)

Mutual aid agreements with homeless providers (health care for the homeless clinicians, PATH workers, and case managers) to be stationed at Red Cross shelters

Mutual aid agreements with motels and other residential facilities that can accommodate people who are displaced from camps and who have no where to go when the Red Cross shelter closes.

INTERAGENCY EMERGENCY PLANNING

Homeless Outreach TeamsTrained in engagement strategiesSkilled in trauma informed communicationKnows the homeless community Trusted by the homeless communityCulturally competent

SOME RESPONSE RESOURCES

Health Centers/Mobile Medical TeamsFederally Qualified Health Centers (Health Care for the Homeless projects) receive federal funding to provide primary care and other servicesSome are equipped with mobile medical vansFederal liability coverage to provide care at emergency service sites if its in their service areaMay be a source for outreach workers and case managers

SOME RESPONSE RESOURCES

Contact your local FQHC:findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov

Housing People living in camps may be eligible for rental assistance

and compensation for personal belongings (FEMA - non-traditional living quarters)

HUD allows people affected by disasters to be moved to the top of waiting lists; also allows resources to be shifted from one program to another.

Case Management After the President declares a disaster, the state can request

disaster case management.

Try to coordinate housing and case management assistance!

RECOVERY RESOURCES

Additional resources for veterans:Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV)

RECOVERY RESOURCES

Mental HealthIdentification

ReplacementPrescription AssistanceDisability services

(including addiction/recovery services)

Local funds from foundations and corporations for individual assistance

Transportation assistance (free Metro bus passes)

Community voice mail

RECOVERY ASSISTANCE

One stop resource fair for people experiencing homelessness

Great place to provide preparedness material/ recruit people for trainings/give away emergency kits

Can be coordinated after a disaster to provide access to information and services

Can be a way to help people connect with friends and support

Volunteer opportunity

PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT

Local hazards/ high risk areas where people without housing reside

Which shelters will open its doors during the day

Evacuation pick up pointsWhat to do if strandedPet careWhat to expect from first

respondersHow to complete a health

information cardSafety tips

Peer to peer training curriculum coming out end of the year

PREPAREDNESS TRAININGS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

Find your Continuum of Care lead: www.hudhre.info/index.cfm?do=viewCocContacts

Kentucky Interagency Council on Homelessness: https://www.kyhousing.org/kich/Content.aspx?id=477

Kentucky Housing Corporation: http://www.kyhousing.org/

Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky: http://www.hhck.org/

KENTUCKY HOMELESS COALITIONS/GROUPS

Isolated, hard to reachHigh rates of poverty/ lack of resourcesHigh rates of health problemsLack of political attentionRural homeless more likely to live in a car, camper, or with

relatives in overcrowded or substandard housingMany services provided by faith-based organizations and

volunteers (many of whom lack emergency training)Poor coordination and communications

PARALLELS BETWEEN THE RURAL POOR & HOMELESS

Growing percentage of older adultsPockets of cultural/ethnic groups (segregated communities,

migrant farmworkers)Complacency - false sense of security related to risk of

terrorismPrimary economic base is usually dependent upon natural

resourcesLack access to urban resources (facilities, equipment and

manpower)Dependence on state and federal emergency assistance

OTHER RISK FACTORS FOR THE RURAL POOR

Federal Resources for Rural Communities: http://www.usich.gov/issue/rural_homelessness/federal_resources_for_rural_communities/

Disaster Farm Assistance Programs http://www.flaginc.org/topic/disaster-assistance-and-risk-management/

Migrant Farm Worker Health Centers http://www.ncfh.org Crisis Counseling Programs for the Rural Community

http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/FederalResource/Response/7-Crisis_Counseling_Rural_Communites.pdf)

Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC) http://centertech.com/public-safety/rdpc/

RESOURCES

MORE INFORMATION

National Health Care for the Homeless Council Emergency Preparedness Resources

http://www.nhchc.org/disasterplanning.html

CONTACT INFORMATION:Sabrina Edgington

sedgington@nhchc.org615/226-2292

QUESTIONS?