Qualifying homeless individuals in Riverside County will be offered the use of rooms in hotels and motels as part of a novel coronavirus containment strategy, officials said Monday.
The temporary housing program has been implemented to comply with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order and prevent aged or ill transients from potentially being exposed to COVID-19, according to the Riverside University Health System.
“Eligible unsheltered homeless individuals include those who are 65 and older, pregnant, have a serious chronic health condition such as heart disease, diabetes or lung disease, or have a compromised immune system,” according to an RUHS statement. “Homeless individuals who are ill or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 will be housed through a different system … This is the latest in a series of precautionary and preventive measures taken by the county to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect the most vulnerable populations.”
Funding mechanisms for the temporary housing program were not immediately identified, nor were the participating hotels and motels.
RUHS, the Department of Public Social Services and other agencies intend to coordinate with homeless shelters and other organizations to identify those most in need, officials said.
Individuals seeking to take part in the program are urged to call the HomeConnect hotline at 1-800-498-8847.
“Efforts to identify permanent housing for these individuals are ongoing and will continue alongside the temporary hotel and motel housing,” according to RUHS.