April 22, 2020
Media Contact:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Today, Howard County shared updates on how the Department of Community Services (DCRS) has been working with local partners to provide safe locations for those facing homelessness amid the COVID-19 outbreak. DCRS has provided a total of 27 homeless individuals, including children and unaccompanied youth, non-congregate housing in partnership with a local hotel partner in Columbia.
“Our community has truly stepped up to ensure our most vulnerable do not fall through the cracks during this pandemic,” said County Executive Calvin Ball. “This has truly been a collaborative effort to create systems that will keep everyone safe, provide adequate shelter, and ensure access to healthcare.
Individuals placed at the property receive daily on-site case management and have access to meals. Basic personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face masks and hand sanitizer, will be made available for caseworkers and clients at the hotel site, thanks to generous donations from faith-based and community partners.
DCRS’ Offices of Community Partnerships and Aging and Independence are collaborating with several government agencies, community groups and faith-based organizations to coordinate homeless outreach. The coalition includes the Howard County Police Department, the County's Office of Emergency Management and Department of Corrections and the Howard County Health Department (HCHD), in addition to Humanim, Grassroots and the Howard County General Hospital (HCGH) to provide these services.
DCRS, HCGH and Grassroots are also developing a hospital discharge and triage plan for any COVID-19 positive homeless clients released from the hospital, to be implemented as clients present with diagnoses.
HCHD will coordinate with Grassroots to determine appropriate levels of PPE at Grassroots and other triage locations, such as hotels, and will provide guidance to their medical providers.
Fire and Rescue Hospital Liaison
Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) has stationed a uniformed member as a hospital liaison in the emergency department of Howard County General Hospital. The hospital liaison will be present 24/7 and serves as resource for HCDFRS personnel when arriving at the emergency department (ED).
The liaison notifies the ED staff of incoming patients, coordinates the EMS crews for room assignments, and ensures patient workflows are followed. Additionally, the liaison coordinates communication between ED clinical staff, ED leadership, and HCDFRS EMS Operations. If there are no-notice changes or potential issues that need follow-up, the liaison knows the appropriate personnel to contact to either get answers or provide real-time information.
One of the highest chances of exposure can occur when removing personal protective equipment (PPE). The liaison can assist fire department personnel with removing PPE. Based on conditions found or anticipated, the position may potentially be staffed around the clock. So far, the response to the position from the ED and HCDFRS has been overwhelmingly positive.
Earth Day
With many residents working from home more, energy usage during daytime hours has shifted from the workplace to our homes. The Office of Sustainability has compiled a list of tips for increasing energy efficiency at home:
- Convert your light bulbs to LEDs. Residential LEDs -- especially ENERGY STAR rated products -- use at least 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer, than incandescent lighting.
- Clean or replace all filters (furnace, humidifier, vacuum, to mention a few) in your home regularly. Clogged, dirty filters block airflow and reduce a system's efficiency. Filters are inexpensive, easy to change, make the air healthier, and help avoid costly breakdowns.
- As we come into warmer months, close blinds, shades and drapes on the sunny side of your home to help keep your home's temperature cooler and reduce the work for your air conditioner. Open shades during cooler months to let the sun naturally warm your home.
- If trying out some new recipes (or making your tried-and-true favorites), don't peek in the oven. Every time you open a heated oven, the temperature can drop 25 degrees making your oven use more energy to bring the temperature back up.
- Control your outdoor lights and sprinklers with a timer or motion detector to ensure operation only as needed.
- Only turn on your lights, computer, monitor, printer, and other devices when you need them (don't leave them on all day/night). As an added bonus, restarting your computer helps complete necessary system security updates and helps your device last longer.
- Run your dishwasher and washer/dryer at night to help keep the house cooler and reduce strain on the power grid during the peak daytime usage hours.
- Turn off heated dry on your dishwasher and air dry instead.
- Adjust the thermostat only to the desired temperature. Your home won't heat or cool faster by cranking it up.
More Resources:
Home Energy Saving Tips from Live Green Howard
Energy Saver Guide from the US Dept of Energy
Additionally, it was announced today that Columbia won Insurify’s 2020 Greenest Cities Award in Maryland, a testament to its dedication to eco-conscious living and driving. The community in each state with the most eco-conscious driving practices, green vehicle features, healthy air quality, and renewable electricity programs was selected as one of America’s Greenest Cities.