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COVID-19 Organization Response Plan Update

August 9, 2021 By Blaine Flanders Leave a Comment

Written by Rota L. Knott, Executive Director for Tedford Housing. Effective August 6, 2021.

Tedford Housing is retaining its COVID-19 protocols to ensure the continued health, safety, and
welfare of our guests, tenants, outreach clients, and staff during the pandemic. These protocols remain
applicable at all Tedford Housing facilities.

Effective immediately Tedford Housing has updated its COVID-19 safety protocols:

• Even if fully vaccinated, as per CDC guidelines, all staff and guests should also continue to wear
masks in both the Adult and Family homeless shelters.
• Guests at the Adult Shelter will wear a face covering in all indoor and outdoor common areas,
except when eating or in the designated outdoor smoking area.
• Guests at the Family Shelter will wear a face covering in all indoor and outdoor common areas,
except when in the designated outdoor smoking area.
• Guests are not required to wear face coverings in their individual units.
• Staff will wear a face covering when at work in all common spaces at all Tedford Housing
facilities. Face coverings are not required when working alone in a private office or similar space.
• Staff will follow state protocols regarding the wearing of face coverings in all public spaces, both
indoor and outdoor, in Maine when conducting official Tedford Housing business. This includes
when participating in off-site client outreach or other professional meetings.
• Outreach clients will wear a face covering at all times during both on-site and off-site
appointments. Staff can provide face coverings for clients as necessary. On-site appointments
with outreach clients with be limited to a maximum of four members of a single household.
• All Tedford Housing offices, shelters, and supportive housing buildings will remain closed to the
general public. Volunteers will be limited to a maximum of four per indoor on-site volunteer
activity. Outdoor volunteer activities will follow CDC capacity recommendations.
• Only staff, guests, and approved service providers will be permitted to enter the shelters without
permission of the director of operations or executive director. Visitors at all Tedford Housing
facilities will be required to wear a mask to gain entry.
• Shelter guests with a fever or other symptoms COVID-19 symptoms as outlined by the CDC will
be referred for medical care, and must show a negative COVID-19 test with clearance by a
medical professional in order to reenter the shelter.
• Staff members who have a fever or other symptoms or who have a symptomatic member of their
household will be referred for medical care. Staff must show a negative COVID-19 test with
clearance by a medical professional in order to return to work.
• Non-shelter staff will work remotely as necessary and approved by their immediate supervisor.
Access by staff to multiple facilities will be limited.

During the time that Tedford Housing is exercising COVID-19 protocols in our shelters, the
following steps will be taken when intakes are being conducted and specifically relate to the prevention of
transmission of COVID-19. These steps are in addition to the standard intake procedures in place at the
adult and family shelters.

Beginning Aug. 1, 2021, the adult shelter capacity will not exceed 12 guests. The family shelter
will continue to serve six families in individual apartments.

  1. All persons seeking shelter access will be asked to present a negative COVID-19 test within
    72 hours of intake.
  2. All persons seeking access will be asked screening questions at intake. These include:
    • Have they had a fever?
    • Have they had a new and worsening cough?
    • Have they experienced a recent loss of taste or smell?
    • In the last two weeks have they been exposed to or have been in close proximity to
    anybody that has tested positive for COVID-19?
    For families seeking access these questions will apply to all family members seeking access.
    Individuals or family members responding yes to any of the above questions will be referred for medical
    care, and must show a negative COVID-19 test with clearance by a medical professional in order to
    reenter the shelter.
  3. All persons seeking access will have their temperature taken before access is granted.
    Individuals or family members with a temperature above normal (98.6) will be referred for
    medical care, and must show a negative COVID-19 test with clearance by a medical
    professional in order to reenter the shelter.

Tedford Housing will continue to operate our Adult Shelter 24 hours a day. The Adult Shelter
will not close and guests will not be asked to leave during the daytime as is our typical protocol. At our Adult Shelter, Family Shelter and supportive housing complexes, our guests and residents are asked to continue practicing social distancing with a 6-foot minimum separation as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. Case management for our guests and outreach clients will be handled remotely by staff as needed.

Tedford Housing may opt to alter our shelter operations at any time. For additional
information, contact Rota L. Knott, Executive Director.

Click here for the PDF version.

Filed Under: General, News & Events Tagged With: COVID-19, homeless shelter, shelter, supportive housing, Tedford Housing, update, wellness, wellness update

COVID-19 Organization Response Plan Update

April 27, 2021 By Blaine Flanders Leave a Comment

Tedford Housing

Written by Rota L. Knott, Executive Director for Tedford Housing. Effective April 27th, 2021.

Tedford Housing is enhancing its COVID-19 protocols to ensure the continued health, safety, and welfare of our guests, tenants, outreach clients, and staff during the pandemic. These new protocols are applicable at all Tedford Housing facilities.

Effective immediately Tedford Housing has implemented the following COVID-19 safety protocols:

  • Staff will wear a face covering when at work in all common spaces at all Tedford Housing facilities. Face coverings are not required when working alone in a private office or similar space.
  • Staff will follow state protocols that require the wearing of face coverings in all public spaces, both indoor and outdoor, in Maine when conducting official Tedford Housing business. This includes when participating in off-site client outreach or other professional meetings.
  • Guests at the Adult Shelter will wear a face covering in all indoor and outdoor common areas, except when eating or in the designated outdoor smoking area.
  • Guests at the Family Shelter will wear a face covering in all indoor and outdoor common areas, except when in the designated outdoor smoking area. Guests are not required to wear face coverings in their individual units.
  • Outreach clients will wear a face covering at all times during both on-site and off-site appointments. On-site appointments with outreach clients with be limited to a maximum of four members of a single household.
  • All Tedford Housing offices, shelters, and supportive housing buildings will remain closed to the general public. Volunteers will be limited to a maximum of four per on-site volunteer activity. Outdoor volunteer activities will follow CDC capacity recommendations
  • Only staff and guests will be permitted to enter the shelters without permission of the director of operations or executive director.
  • Shelter guests with a fever or other symptoms will be referred for medical care, and must show a negative COVID-19 test with clearance by a medical professional in order to reenter the shelter.
  • Staff members who have a fever or other symptoms or who have a symptomatic member of their household will be referred for medical care. Staff must show a negative COVID-19 test with clearance by a medical professional in order to return to work.
  • Non-shelter staff will work remotely as necessary and approved by their immediate supervisor. Access by staff to multiple facilities will be limited.

During the time that Tedford Housing is exercising COVID-19 protocols in our shelters, the following steps will be taken when intakes are being conducted and specifically relate to the prevention of transmission of COVID-19. These steps are in addition to the standard intake procedures in place at the adult and family shelters.

Until further notice, the adult shelter capacity will not exceed 10 guests. The family shelter will continue to serve six families in individual apartments.

  1. All persons seeking shelter access will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of intake.
  2. All persons seeking access will be asked screening questions at intake. These include: Have they had a new and worsening cough?
    • Have they had a fever?
    • Have they experienced a recent loss of taste or smell?
    • In the last two weeks have they been exposed to or have been in close proximity to anybody that has tested positive for COVID-19?
      For families seeking access, these questions will apply to all family members seeking access. Individuals or family members responding yes to any of the above questions will be referred for medical care, and must show a negative COVID-19 test with clearance by a medical professional in order to reenter the shelter.
  3. All persons seeking access will have their temperature taken before access is granted. Individuals or family members with a temperature above normal (98.6) will be referred for medical care, and must show a negative COVID-19 test with clearance by a medical professional in order to reenter the shelter.

Tedford Housing will continue to operate our Adult Shelter 24 hours a day to ensure our guests have a safe place be while the statewide State of Emergency remains in place. The Adult Shelter will not close and guests will not be asked to leave during the daytime as is our typical protocol.

At our Adult Shelter, Family Shelter and supportive housing complexes, our guests and residents are asked to continue practicing extreme social distancing with a 6-foot minimum separation as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. Case management for our guests and outreach clients will be handled remotely by staff as needed.

Tedford Housing may opt to alter our shelter operations at any time. For additional information, contact Rota L. Knott, Executive Director.

Filed Under: General, News & Events Tagged With: COVID-19, homeless shelter, shelter, supportive housing, Tedford Housing, wellness update

COVID-19 Protocol Update

November 6, 2020 By Blaine Flanders Leave a Comment

Tedford Housing

Written by Rota Knott, Executive Director for Tedford Housing. Effective November 6th, 2020.

Tedford Housing is enhancing its COVID-19 protocols to ensure the continued health, safety, and welfare of our guests, tenants, outreach clients, and staff during the pandemic. These new protocols are applicable at all Tedford Housing facilities.

Effective immediately Tedford Housing has implemented the following COVID-19 safety protocols:

  • Staff will wear a face covering when at work in all common spaces at all Tedford Housing facilities. Face coverings are not required when working alone in a private office or similar space.
  • Staff will follow state protocols that require the wearing of face coverings in all public spaces, both indoor and outdoor, in Maine when conducting official Tedford Housing business. This includes when participating in off-site client outreach or other professional meetings.
  • Guests at the Adult Shelter will wear a face covering in all indoor and outdoor common areas, except when eating or in the designated outdoor smoking area.
  • Guests at the Family Shelter will wear a face covering in all indoor and outdoor common areas, except when in the designated outdoor smoking area. Guests are not required to wear face coverings in their individual units.
  • Outreach clients will wear a face covering at all times during both on-site and off-site appointments. On-site appointments with outreach clients with be limited to a maximum of four members of a single household.
  • All Tedford Housing offices, shelters, and supportive housing buildings will remain closed to the general public. Volunteers will be limited to a maximum of four per on-site volunteer activity.
  • Only staff and guests will be permitted to enter the shelters without permission of the director of operations or executive director.
  • Shelter guests with a fever or other symptoms will be referred for medical care, and must show a negative Covid-19 test with clearance by a medical professional in order to reenter the shelter.
  • Staff members who have a fever or other symptoms or who have a symptomatic member of their household will be referred for medical care. Staff must show a negative COVID-19 test with clearance by a medical professional in order to return to work.
  • Non-shelter staff will work remotely as necessary and approved by their immediate supervisor. Access by staff to multiple facilities will be limited.

During the time that Tedford Housing is exercising COVID-19 protocols in our shelters, the following steps will be taken when intakes are being conducted and specifically relate to the prevention of transmission of COVID-19. These steps are in addition to the standard intake procedures in place at the adult and family shelters.

Until further notice, the adult shelter capacity will not exceed 10 guests. The family shelter will continue to serve six families in individual apartments.

  1. All persons seeking shelter access will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of intake.
  1. All persons seeking access will be asked screening questions at intake. These include:
    • Have they had a new and worsening cough?
    • Have they had a fever?
    • Have they experienced a recent loss of taste or smell?
    • In the last two weeks have they been exposed to or have been in close proximity to anybody that has tested positive for COVID-19?

For families seeking access, these questions will apply to all family members seeking access.

Individuals or family members responding yes to any of the above questions will be referred for medical care, and must show a negative COVID-19 test with clearance by a medical professional in order to reenter the shelter.

  1. All persons seeking access will have their temperature taken before access is granted. Individuals or family members with a temperature above normal (98.6) will be referred for medical care, and must show a negative COVID-19 test with clearance by a medical professional in order to reenter the shelter.

Tedford Housing will continue to operate our Adult Shelter 24 hours a day to ensure our guests have a safe place be while the statewide State of Emergency remains in place. The Adult Shelter will not close and guests will not be asked to leave during the daytime as is our typical protocol.

At our Adult Shelter, Family Shelter and supportive housing complexes, our guests and residents are asked to continue practicing extreme social distancing with a 6-foot minimum separation as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. Case management for our guests and outreach clients will be handled remotely by staff as needed.

Tedford Housing may opt to alter our shelter operations at any time. For additional information, contact Rota L. Knott, Executive Director.

Filed Under: General, News & Events Tagged With: COVID-19, social distancing, Tedford Housing

COVID-19 Organizational Response Plan Update

July 22, 2020 By Rota Knott 3 Comments

Tedford Housing

Tedford Housing continues to ensure the safety of our guests, tenants, outreach clients, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic by observing enhances health and wellness protocols at all of our facilities.

We will operate our Adult Shelter 24 hours a day through the State of Emergency to ensure our guests have a safe place be while the statewide stay-at-home order remains in place. The Adult Shelter will not close and guests will not be asked to leave during the daytime as is our typical protocol.

At our Adult Shelter, Family Shelter and supportive housing complexes, our guests and residents are asked to continue practicing extreme social distancing with a 6-foot minimum separation as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. Case management for our guests and outreach clients will be handled remotely by staff as needed.

In an effort to ensure the safety of our guests, staff, and volunteers, Tedford Housing will continue the following additional protocols:

  • All Tedford Housing offices, shelters, and supportive housing buildings will remain closed to the public.
  • Only staff and guests will be permitted to enter the shelters without permission of the director of operations or executive director.
  • Shelter guests with a fever or other symptoms will be referred for medical care, and must show clearance by a medical professional in order to reenter the shelter.
  • Staff members who have a fever or other symptoms or who have a symptomatic member of their household will be referred for medical care. Staff must show clearance by a medical professional in order to return to work.
  • Non-shelter staff will work remotely as necessary. Access by staff to multiple facilities will be limited.
  • All staff will follow state protocols requiring the wearing of face coverings in public spaces where physical distancing is difficult to maintain when conducting official Tedford Housing business. Tedford Housing facilities are not public spaces.

During the time that Tedford Housing is exercising COVID-19 protocols in their shelters, the following steps will be taken when intakes are being conducted and specifically relate to the prevention of transmission of COVID-19. These steps are in addition to the standard intake procedures in place at the adult and family shelters.

Capacity: until further notice, the adult shelter capacity will not exceed 10 guests. The family shelter will continue to serve six families in individual apartments.

1. All persons seeking access will be asked screening questions at intake. These include:

• Have they had a new and worsening cough?
• Have they had a fever?
• Have they experienced a recent loss of taste or smell?
• In the last two weeks have they been exposed to or have been in close proximity to anybody that has tested positive for COVID-19?

For families seeking access these questions will apply to all family members seeking access.

Individuals or family members responding yes to any of the above questions will be referred for medical care, and must show clearance by a medical professional in order to reenter the shelter. Tedford Housing reserves the right to ask specifically that a person be tested for COVID-19 prior to being granted access to the shelter.

2. All persons seeking access will have their temperature taken before access is granted. Individuals or family members with a temperature above normal (98.6) will be referred for medical care, and must show clearance by a medical professional in order to reenter the shelter

Tedford Housing may opt to alter our shelter operations at any time. For additional information, contact Rota L. Knott, Executive Director.

Filed Under: General, News & Events Tagged With: COVID-19, social distancing, Tedford Housing

Giving Voice: Homelessness in the southern Midcoast through the lens of COVID-19

July 15, 2020 By Blaine Flanders Leave a Comment

Giving Voice

This article was published in the Portland Press Herald on 07/03/2020 and is written by Giff Jamison, the Director of Programs at Tedford Housing.

As I write this in late June, we are entering our fifth month of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maine. Back in March, in response to the suddenness and increasing severity this national health crisis, Tedford Housing, like many other organizations serving people experiencing homelessness, began changing and adapting in order to adhere to the evolving social distancing guidelines and the Governor’s executive order to shelter safely at home. That month, to create more room in our shelter, we moved some guests into a motel. Our shelter, which traditionally had been closed between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, is now open 24/7. By late May, enough people had transitioned into housing to allow us to bring everyone safely back into the shelter again. Normally 16 beds, we are capping our current capacity at 10 individuals – doing intakes as beds empty and guests move into housing. Our family shelter continues to serve our regular number of six families in individual apartments in our facility at Federal St.

So far, Tedford has been lucky in not having a shelter guest or any of its staff members test positive for COVID-19. But here, as everywhere else, adjusting to the often referred to “new normal” is challenging for everyone involved. Our overarching goal has always been to help people who have experienced the trauma and destabilizing impact of homelessness become housed as soon as possible. Prior to March, there were already enough hurdles for our case managers to manage in finding suitable affordable housing. Matching resources and the limited supply of affordable housing to the diverse needs of people on their case loads meant hours of telephone calls, in-person viewing of apartments and layers of paperwork to finalize the issuance of a voucher and lease-up of an apartment. COVID-19 brought another dimension to that work. As Michelle Thiboutot, our adult shelter case manager, puts it: “COVID-19 has slowed the housing process down. From processing documents for housing to securing a unit.”

In addition to working with folks in our shelters, Tedford case managers work with those who are homeless and unsheltered in the community and those in their own apartments who have recently experienced homelessness. This outreach work has grown in importance as we work to not only restore housing to those that have lost it, but, through regular check-ins and visits, help people maintain their housing and avoid a return to homelessness. The changes in society brought about by the pandemic, the need to socially distance from others, to avoid gatherings, and the closing or reduced hours of places where people can socialize or congregate have had their impact on households served in outreach or our supportive housing programs. Michelle indicates: “some of my outreach clients are having a really hard time due to the isolation and COVID-19 restrictions.” Actual fear of becoming infected with the virus, coupled with the restriction in connecting with natural supports has taken its toll on some of our families as Beverly McPhail, our family case manager, points out: “Their biggest worry is that their children will be infected or will die from the coronavirus. They miss visiting face to face with their family members, their anxiety has increased substantially. Some families reported that they feel like they are buried alive and always worrying about the ever-looming coronavirus over their head. The loss of their freedom and the loss of everything that they used to do before coronavirus is devastating to them.”

Despite the hardships and loss encountered as a result of COVID-19, we have learned that we can still accomplish our mission to Empower people to move from homelessness to home and alleviate the interruption to a life caused by homelessness. In the coming week or so, two more people are moving into housing from our adult shelter. They are both persons who have experienced homelessness for long periods of time but have stuck it out at the shelter and through their patience and the diligence of their case manager have secured safe and affordable permanent housing. This event always provides a little shot in the arm for those of us in this field. With the uncertainty that this era generates in our personal and working lives, it is good to know that we can share in a small victory every once in a while. Some offer predictions of more to come in the way of COVID-19 in the upcoming fall and winter season. We, together with our partners in the community, will continue to adapt to the current conditions and, to the best of ability, continue our effort to house the most vulnerable in our community.

Filed Under: Giving, News & Events Tagged With: community, COVID-19, families, hardships, home, homelessness, Maine, midcoast, mission, new normal, partner, shelter, tedford, Tedford Housing

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