Since February 17, 2009 when President Barrack Obama signed the Recovery Act into law thus launching the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), Georgia's homeless service providers have been ramping up to assist Georgians that have lost their homes and help them rebuild their lives or prevent families from becoming homeless in the first place. The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) is intended to help those families that need finacnial assistance on a short term basis. Families who have encountered hardships that would cause them to become homeless or are being forced to live in a shelter or on the streets can now receive rental assistance. Assistance is not limited to rent but can include security deposits, utility deposits, utility payments, moving cost assistance and hotel vouchers. Payment will only be made to third parties, such as landlords and utility companies.
State authorities are hoping that a little help will go a long way to stabilize a family and alleviate the need for furher assistance. Statewide advocacy agencies are concerned that the level of funding may only serve to assist a small fraction of Georgia's thousands of homeless and at-risk families. "Some organizations have experienced delays in program start-up but overall the program is proceeding as planned ". said Katheryn Preston, Executive Director of the Georgia Coalition To End Homelessness. "GCEH has a number of technical assistance and training tools available to organizations needing support". "The main thing is that we get the funds in the hands of as many homeless families as possible so they can begin the process of stabilizing and rebuilding their lives". Eleven (11) Governments throughout Georgia have been awarded $14 Million for distribution and the State's remaining balance of state and rural counties recieved an additional $19 Million in HPRP funds. Seven(7)organizations have been selected to distribute HPRP funds to Georgia's balance of state and rural counties, they include CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority, Inc., Community Action for Improvement Inc.,MUST Ministries Inc.,Middle GA Community Action Agency Inc., Ninth District Opportunity Inc., Rockdale County Emergency Relief Fund Inc. and The Salvation Army Georgia Division. For more information on these organizations and a complete list of other specific organizations distributing city and county designated funds please visit

 

 

The Department of Community Health  Partners with Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness
 
The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) and the Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness, Inc. (GCEH) have partnered to raise awareness of flu prevention among the state's homeless population.  The outreach was launched during Homeless Awareness Week in Georgia, November 1-7, 2009.
 
 "We applaud GCEH for getting involved and advocating for the homeless in Georgia," said Dr. Rhonda Medows, DCH Commissioner and State Health Officer.  "Our collective mission to ensure the health and overall wellbeing of Georgia's homeless can impact the lives of the men, women and children living in shelters or temporary housing in
Georgia."
 
The homeless population is diverse, transient, and includes single adults, children and families.  Much of the homeless population resides in shelters, but over 40 percent are unsheltered.  In addition, events such as acts of nature (e.g., floods, tornadoes and hurricanes), reduce access to everyday resources.  Disease outbreaks such as the 2009 H1N1 flu may contribute to a rapid increase in emergency shelter usage.
Therefore, the CDC's interim recommendations to reduce transmission of seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 flu in this group are critical. 
 
"It is critical for all housing facilities to ensure that the best health and safety precautions are implemented to protect the families in their care," said Katheryn Preston, Executive Director, Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness, Inc.  "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends general guidelines for homeless and emergency shelters to prevent the spread of disease, and DCH and GCEH are promoting these recommendations through educational pamphlets and prevention messages."
 
The CDC recommendations are:
 
1.  Encourage all persons within the shelter to cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue.  Throw all tissues in the trash after use. Maintain good hand hygiene by washing with running water and soap, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing.  Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth; 
 
2.  Make the means for appropriate hand cleansing is readily available within the shelter, including common food preparation and dining areas.  Ideal means for hand cleansing include, running water, soap, and hand drying machines.  Paper towels and waste baskets should be made available.  Shelter staff, volunteers and clients should frequently wash their hands with soap and water, or use a hand sanitizer if hand washing with soap and water is not possible;
 
3. Shelters should follow standard precautions in the shelter settings.  This includes training staff in the control of infectious diseases, providing access to personal protective equipment and apparel,
and encouraging proper hand washing; and    
 
4. Clean all common areas within the shelter routinely and immediately with the cleaning agents normally used in these areas. Items that are often in contact with respiratory droplets and hands (e.g., doorknobs, faucets, etc.,) should be cleaned and disinfected regularly.  Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with detergent and water.  Cups and utensils should not be shared until after washing.
 
For a copy of the Homeless and Emergency Shelters - Protect Yourself Against Seasonal Flu and 2009 H1N1 brochure, visit http://health.state.ga.us/  

A complete list of the Interim Guidance for Homeless and Emergency Shelters on the H1N1 virus can be found at   http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu 

 

The above listed organizations received recognition and plaques at a recent meeting of the Authority's Board of Directors and Chatham County Commissioners. The Fourteen (14) organizations of the Chatham-Savannah Continuum of Care underwent a process of administrative reviews and program inspections during site visits which were designed to prepare and implement standards of care and service delivery to homeless persons. Savannah's organizations were first QESST accredited in 2005 and have benefited greatly with increased program accountability and funding. "Many organizations that achieve a QESST accreditation have seen marked increases in their capacity and ability to serve those in need. QESST is an excellent organizational capacity building tool and is a best practice program for those organizations seeking to elevate their standards." said Katheryn Preston, Executive Director of the Georgia Coalition To End Homelessness. QESST team members assessed and scored each organization using comprehensive evaluation tools for administration, fiscal management, personnel, program operations and procedures, safety and environment, food service and medical. Client surveys and focus groups also provided feedback and information necessary in developing an organization's score. A score in the 90th percentile is necessary for an organization to be awarded a QESST Certification. Currently there are over 40 organizations in Georgia that hold a QESST Best Practices Accreditation. "Many organizations are not content with just achieving a score of 90, we are proud to say that several of our QESST partners have strived and reached a score of 100%," said Tom Plamann, Program Director for the Georgia Coalition To End Homelessless.  "We are very pleased that Savannah brought their entire continuum into the QESST program and we hope even more of Georgia's homeless service providers will make a commitment to providing best practices programming to serve the homeless in our state". said Plamann. "We have several organizations currently engaged in the QESST accreditation process, and look forward to accrediting each one of them." "GCEH can provide the necessary technical support and assistance to bring most organizations up to accreditation standards"  If you are interested in more information about QESST or your organization becoming a QESST best practice, accredited organization please feel free to contact Tom Plamann at 770-575-5785 or visit us on the web at QESST.  

 Visit The GCEH QESST Best Practices Website