Dear Friends and Families,

​

In an abundance of caution and with maximum consideration given for the health of our clients, shelter guests, and staff, we at HomeFirst are taking some proactive steps in response to the rapidly changing situation at hand regarding the COVID-19 virus. We are heeding the advice of the CDC, the Governor, and Santa Clara County Public Health in implementing the following actions effective Monday March 16, 2020: 

​

SHELTER GUESTS: 

HomeFirst will not be accepting new client enrollments at our homeless shelters—the Boccardo Reception Center, Sunnyvale Family and Adult Shelter, Mountain View and Gilroy Cold Weather Shelters, and the San José Overnight Warming Locations.  We will take referrals with the clear intention of assigning space as soon as we are able to maintain the recommended social distancing throughout one’s stay.

​

WORKSHOPS & MEETINGS: 

All workshops and meetings with anticipated attendance or 10 or more participants will be rescheduled or held remotely, i.e. by conference call or video conferencing.

​

DONATIONS: 

We are asking that our very generous community refrain from donating soft goods, household items, or food to HomeFirst for the foreseeable future.

​

• Our immediate needs are laundry detergent, hygiene products, hand sanitizer, face masks, and bleach- or alcohol-based cleaning supplies. 

• We will accept donations only at our Administrative office (Sobrato Center for Nonprofits, 507 Valley Way, Milpitas, 95035) only on Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 10am and 4pm.  For the time being, we regret that we can accept NO donations at any of our other facilities.

• We will NOT be accepting any soft donations of any kind--including clothing—until we determine it is safe to do so.

​

VOLUNTEERS: 

We are not exaggerating in saying that volunteers are the very lifeblood of HomeFirst.  The Annex Volunteer Team members who manage donation stores and set up move-in kits for our housed clients have tremendous positive impact.  The hundreds of groups who come into our facilities to assemble kits, lead workshops and more greatly enhance the experience of our shelter guests.  And the thousands of you who prepare and/or serve meals at the shelters provide huge help for our small kitchen staff.  You all are essential pieces to the operation of our sites!

​

For the time being, we must insist that ALL volunteers stay away at least until the end of the month when we will re-evaluate measures. 

​

• Recurring or on-going volunteer activities will return to their regularly scheduled times when the threat of exposure decreases to safer levels.

• One-time or Special volunteer projects also will be rescheduled as soon as there is an ‘all clear’ message to implement.

• All shelter meals will be prepared by our kitchen staff at the Boccardo Reception Center or Martha’s Kitchen, and distributed by staff.  We can accept no deliveries of prepared food from volunteers or delivery groups, such as Food Runners, for the time being.

​

VISITORS: 

All HomeFirst offices—including our Administrative office—will be closed to any unscheduled visitors.  All meetings of community groups, advisory/advocacy committees, etc. must be held remotely, not at a shelter site.

In addition to the above changes, HomeFirst has already taken steps to mitigate the spread of the virus to our staff and guests. Including:

​

• Communicating to staff, via team managers, what to do if they feel they need to be tested for the virus: 

  • Go home/self-isolate

  • Call Kaiser (or your own health insurance provider) to speak with an Advice Nurse about your symptoms

  • If advised to do so, utilizing one of the ‘drive through’ screening locations

•  Implementing protocols for shelter guests:

  • Providing isolation space for those who are symptomatic

  • Identifying for Clinic Staff those who experiencing symptoms

  • Setting up beds and mats for head-to-toe orientation and providing the recommended six feet of personal space

​

Thank you for your assistance while we navigate through this challenging time.  We so appreciate your support and will keep you up to date with any developments as they occur.  Now is a terrific time to give a little (or a lot!) to support the charities who are doing so much with so little.  We thank you for your continued support!

​

Please know that these steps are simply to keep everyone healthy. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have at info@homefirstscc.org.

​

In Gratitude,

​

​

​

​

​

Andrea Urton

Chief Executive Officer