rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/keep-sip-hotels-open?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-keep-sip-hotels-open' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Senior and Disability Action https://actionnetwork.org/groups/senior-and-disability-action https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg Shelter In Place Hotels -- Let's use ‘em til the money runs dry The Stop the SIP Hotel Shutdown is renewing its call for SIP hotels to stay open for sheltering unhoused people and calling for open access to the rooms for eligible individuals. Hotelling, a program that has been fully reimbursed by FEMA, was just recently extended by the Biden administration through April of 2022. The program was instituted to allow social distancing and sheltering in place of unhoused people. Moving adults out of our shelter system and off of the streets into individual hotel rooms during the pandemic saved lives. A study of the SF SIP hotel program showed that emergency department visits dropped more than half on average, resulted in decreased substance abuse and advanced health equity goals. The city of San Francisco oversaw the opening of 25 SIP Hotels with 2,228 rooms at its peak and has already closed 8 hotels since vaccines became available, including one for families and one for youth. The City announced planned closures of 2 more hotels in December just as news of a new COVID variant of concern has emerged. This new variant is yet another reason to fully utilize the shelter in place hotels for unhoused individuals.   People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 and death even if vaccinated because they are older and have high rates of chronic disease. Throughout the pandemic, individuals experiencing homelessness who were living in congregate shelters faced high risk for COVID-19 infection and mortality. The SIP hotels can provide private room shelters and allow people relief from the cold weather, while keeping people safe in private rooms. In order to improve distancing there are fewer shelter beds. Traditionally the city opens up winter shelter beds, and this year only 40 “beds” were added to the system. These are beds that are closed during the day, providing mats on the floor in a congregate setting. They fill quickly once word gets out. Folks who have been out on the streets, have been stuck there since the beginning of the pandemic. New referrals into SIP hotels closed in March. Self referral to other shelters that existed prior to the pandemic has been halted, and instead individuals must be referred by a limited number of often inaccessible government entities. This has led to shelter vacancies while those seeking shelter at community based organizations are turned away due to lack of placement authority and the closure of the self referral process. Housing placements are mostly restricted to current SIP hotel residents. Please take action by emailing the Mayor and posting on social media. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/keep-sip-hotels-open