EL DORADO COUNTY HOT TEAM TAKES STEPS TO IDENTIFY, HELP COUNTY'S HOMELESS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
(PLACERVILLE, CA) – The County's Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) recently created the COVID-19 Homeless Community Response Team. Working in collaboration with the Office of Emergency Services' Emergency Operations Center (EOC) the team identifies vulnerable individuals throughout the County and educates them on best practices in addition to offering assistance to them to improve the overall safety of the community from this virus.
"The goal of this group is to assist the homeless in minimizing contact with the same expectation as the rest of the County, state and nation," said Jason Bloxsom, El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Sergeant in charge of the Homeless Outreach Team. "Our collaborative group will continue to provide ongoing medical assessments during the pandemic in a proactive effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19 amongst the homeless population and the community. As at-risk or symptomatic individuals are identified, efforts will be made to provide proper medical attention to include suitable shelter and monitoring until they are medically cleared for repopulation," he said.
In addition to HOT personnel, the team includes Martin Entwistle, Vice President of Population Health for Marshall Hospital, Shaunda Crane, Director of Care Coordination for Vulnerable Populations for Marshall Hospital, and volunteers from the County.
HOT has been in the field for the past three weeks contacting the homeless to begin the process of identifying those most vulnerable to COVID-19. Members of HOT, the Continuum of Care, Cal Fire, community volunteers, Marshall Medical nurses, and Community Health nurses will provide additional education and care kits for medical needs related to COVID-19. Focused efforts are also being made by volunteers to provide basic necessities to aid this vulnerable population with sheltering in place.
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