COVID-19 Information and Updates for Grantees

Below are emergency housing grants and grantee guidance responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please note that COVID-19 is a health-related issue, and the best guidance is available on the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) website and through guidance issued by your local public health department. DOH also offers COVID-19 educational materials in 26 languages. If you expect exposure to COVID-19, please follow DOH and Center for Disease Control (CDC) requirements and guidelines. For guidance on how to prevent and manage the spread of COVID-19 in homeless shelter settings, please see Commerce’s interim guidance.

State CDBG COVID-19 Response

In response to the COVID-19 emergency, rural counties are eligible to receive Economic Opportunity Grant funding for economic, housing and public health services. A total of $1.8 million is being distributed between eligible counties with an existing CDBG Public Services Grant contract through an expedited amendment process to fund COVID-19 response services in rural areas.

COVID-19 Guidance for Homeless Service Programs

Below are links to preliminary COVID-19 guidance for homeless service program providers. We are working with the Washington State Department of Health on additional resources and guidance. If you have additional questions about the COVID-19 outbreak, we recommend contacting your local public health department or the Washington State Department of Health at 1-800-525-0127.

CDC Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers to Plan and Respond to the COVID-19 (web)
Discontinuing Home Isolation (PDF)
Information on taking care of people who are sick, how long to isolate, and other commonly asked questions (web)
Information from WA State DOH on working with people who are homeless (web)
COVID-19 Tips for Homeless Service Providers (PDF)
Interim Guidance on COVID-19 for Homeless Service Providers (PDF)
Home Isolation Guidance for Families and Individuals Living in Permanent Supportive Housing (PDF)
FAQ for Coordinated Entry, Consolidated Homeless Grant on COVID (PDF)
Clarification: Relief efforts are allowed under Governor Inslee’s proclamations (PDF)


COVID-19 Emergency Response Grant for Tribal Governments

Funding for this grant is to address the COVID -19 outbreak-related needs of tribal governments.

COVID-19 Emergency Response Grant for Tribal Governments Contact Information

Emily Burgess
Emily.Burgess@commerce.wa.gov

Diane Klontz, Assistant Director of the Community Services and Housing Division, at (360) 701–2732.

COVID-19 Emergency Housing Grants to Counties

Funding for this grant is to address the COVID -19 outbreak-related public health needs of people experiencing homelessness or otherwise in need of quarantine or isolation due to the outbreak.

COVID-19 Emergency Housing Grants Contact Information

Kathy Kinard
kathy.kinard@commerce.wa.gov
Commerce Housing Assistance page

Diane Klontz, Assistant Director of the Community Services and Housing Division, at (360) 701–2732.

Landlord Mitigation Program and Tenancy Preservation Program

Office of Homeless Youth Grantee Guidance

Office of Homeless Youth Contact Information

E-mail Updates
Sign up to receive updates from the Office of Homeless Youth

Housing Trust Fund Disaster Assistance