Type of Intervention: Executive Order, Financial and Economic
Sectors Involved: Health, Social Services
Intervention Categories: Finance policy and financial aid; Aid distributed to community groups
Level of Jurisdiction: Virginia
Lead People/Agency: Governor Ralph Northam, FEMA, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Virginia Department of Health
Overview: Governor Ralph Northam today announced an initial $2.5 million in emergency funding to shelter Virginia’s statewide homeless population during the COVID-19 pandemic. This emergency support will provide temporary housing for the approximately 1,500 Virginians who are currently unsheltered or rely on shelters that require them to leave every day.
Full details here: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/april/headline-855925-en.html
Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group, Learning from other jurisdictions, Perception of an increased threat
Evidence/Justification: People experiencing homelessness are more likely to have chronic health conditions that go untreated, and are among the populations most vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. In recent years, Virginia has seen an increase in the number of older adults experiencing homelessness.