REGION I – FEMA reimbursed $1,752,632 to the City of Lawrence, Massachusetts for costs incurred to lease, staff and set up three non-congregate shelters (NCS) from April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020. Shelter residents included the homeless who needed a safe place to stay as well as individuals and families who tested positive for COVID-19 but did not require hospitalization.
Massachusetts was an early hotspot for the pandemic; the first case was confirmed March 2, 2020. State and local governments moved quickly to recognize the threat to the public’s health, given the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus. Non-congregate shelters were an immediate need. The City of Lawrence has a high number of residents who were challenged by the need to socially distance or to quarantine. In an attempt to safeguard the entire community against the virus, the city contracted with various facilities for spaces for both quarantining/safe distancing as well as space for isolation for individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 but did not require hospitalization.
These shelters operated with support from a wide range of organizations, from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, other shelters and health centers to the city’s Homelessness Initiatives Coordinator who is responsible for housing search and placement services.
Acting Regional Administrator and Federal Coordinating Officer Paul Ford observed that “by temporarily housing families and individuals, the city was able to control the potential spread of the virus and reduce the immediate threat to the public. FEMA is happy to support the city’s efforts to care for the homeless while protecting the entire community”.
This project is funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program that reimburses eligible applicants for actions taken in the immediate response and during recovery from a major disaster. Eligible applicants include the state, federally recognized tribal governments, local governments, and certain private non-profit organizations. Project applications are submitted from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), which coordinates the process with eligible applicants.
FEMA awarded funding for this project directly to MEMA who works directly with the applicant to ensure all terms and conditions of the award are met before funding is disbursed.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.