Please call 2-1-1 for information and services on homelessness near you.
Please call 2-1-1 for information and services on homelessness near you.
Through our collaborative partnerships, we aim to increase awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine as an important public health tool and to increase vaccine equity for people experiencing homelessness. Join us to provide COVID-19 vaccinations across Sacramento County, especially to increase awareness and access among our most vulnerable communities!
Together, as of November 19, 2021, we have administered 2,181 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to unsheltered and sheltered individuals. This data is collected by Sacramento County Public Health.
Want to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination locations and resources in Sacramento? See a list of vaccination events, clinics, and available resources now.
The California Department of Public Health through its “Vaccinate All 58 (VA58)” campaign is working to overcome barriers and improve equitable distribution of vaccines by providing accurate promotional and educational resources in-language. We highly encourage agencies with capacity to proofread and verify translations to help us meet the language needs of our diverse communities, including people experiencing homelessness. Participating agencies will be paid a $50 stipend per page. Please complete this form only if your agency is willing and has capacity to verify translated assets created by VA58.
Residential households in the US are now eligible for another order of free at-home tests on USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
The CDC is expanding eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to everyone 5 and up. CDC now recommends that children aged 5-11 should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series. Since the pandemic began, more than 4.8 million children ages 5 through 11 have been diagnosed with COVID-19, 15,000 have been hospitalized and, tragically, over 180 have died. As cases increase across the country, a booster dose will safely help restore and enhance protection against severe disease.
In addition, today CDC is strengthening its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a second booster dose at least 4 months after their first.
The FDA has amended the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, authorizing the use of a single booster dose for administration to individuals 5 through 11 years of age at least five months after completion of a primary series with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
The FDA has authorized the Labcorp Seasonal Respiratory Virus RT-PCR DTC Test for use without a prescription by individuals with symptoms of respiratory viral infection consistent with COVID-19. This is the first non-prescription multi-analyte COVID-19 test authorized by FDA and allows an individual to self-collect a nasal swab sample at home and then send that sample to Labcorp for testing. The test can identify and differentiate multiple respiratory viruses at the same time, detecting the flu, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2. Results are delivered through an online portal, with follow-up from a health care provider for positive or invalid test results.
In alignment with the CDC’s announcement that its order requiring masking on public transportation and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect, effective immediately California’s requirement for masking on public transit and in transportation hubs is terminated. CDPH strongly recommends that individuals in these settings continue to wear a mask. See CDPH guidance for face coverings.
Sacramento Steps Forward has limited COVID-19 supplies available. Contact us if you’re interested in accessing educational materials, masks, sanitizers, testing kits, and more.
Cottage Housing is also making available 4oz. bottles of hand sanitizer (24 bottles/case) to support agencies and programs serving Sacramento clients. Supplies are limited however, more could become available in the future. Reserved supplies can be picked up at SERNA Village at 5836 Dudley Blvd., McClellan Park, CA 95652. Please contact Lois Littlewolf, Cottage Housing Program Manager at (916) 339-2746.
Data continue to show the importance of vaccination and booster doses to protect individuals both from infection and severe outcomes of COVID-19. For adults and adolescents eligible for a first booster dose, these shots are safe and provide substantial benefit. During the recent Omicron surge, those who were boosted were 21-times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who were unvaccinated, and 7-times less likely to be hospitalized. CDC continues to recommend that all eligible adults, adolescents, and children 5 and older be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting an initial booster when eligible. Read more!
CDC is committed to COVID-19 vaccine equity, which is when everyone has fair and just access to COVID-19 vaccination. There are many social, geographic, political, economic, and environmental factors that create challenges to vaccination access and acceptance, and that often affect racial and ethnic minority groups. Learn more!
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, including in workplaces. Employers, labor organizations, healthcare, and public health organizations, and community-based organizations have developed many types of policies and programs to promote worker vaccination. Some examples are described below. Learn more!
If you’re experiencing homelessness or need emergency housing:
Sacramento County Public Health has its final COVID-19 Community Conversation with Dr. Kasirye and Dr. Cohen Thursday, 3/17/22 from 6-7:30PM. We understand that many community members may have questions around the variants, vaccine and testing. This would be a great opportunity for community members to connect directly with our Public Health Leadership. Community members can register for the online forum Eventbrite registration: https://bit.ly/3qpjO3G. This event will have American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, Hmong, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Arabic and Vietnamese Interpretation. NOTE: If you had previously registered on Zoom you will need to re-register on Eventbrite.
In alignment with the State, effective immediately, the Sacramento County Health Officer is rescinding the July 26 Health Order requiring all individuals to wear face coverings indoors, as well as the January 6 Health Order directing all public meetings to be held virtually. Per order of CDPH, all unvaccinated individuals will continue to be required to wear face-coverings in all indoor public settings. The State’s masking requirements regardless of vaccination status remains in effect for public transportation; healthcare settings; congregate settings; long-term care facilities; and in K-12 schools and childcare settings. In workplaces, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA requirements. Review details of the Health Order Rescission for Face Coverings and Health Order Rescission for Public Meetings. Also, read the SacCountyNews story: Sacramento County Rescinds Local Health Orders.
California is launching a new Ambassador Program! Ambassadors are trusted messengers that help inform the community about why the COVID-19 vaccines provide the best protection against the COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 virus. If you’re interested in helping reduce the spread of COVID-19, register for the Ambassador Training on Wednesday, October 20 at 6:30 pm (English) and Wednesday, November 3 at 6:30 pm (Spanish). View details!
We will continue providing COVID-19 relevant updates as new information becomes available from federal, state, and local agencies.
We are taking part in the COVID-19 Community Health Project (CCHP), a state-wide initiative facilitated by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation with the California Department of Social Services (February 2021-July 2021) and then with the California Department of Public Health (October 2021-March 2022). Our project supports our unsheltered communities by:
We coordinate with the Sacramento County Public Health Department and our community partners to offer people experiencing homelessness more convenient options to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
We collaborate with a team of COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassadors, which include community partners who then recruit people experiencing homelessness to act as trusted leaders within encampments and shelters to carry forward the COVID-19 prevention message, further building confidence in the vaccines.
We also promote and provide educational materials developed by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State of California through our targeted “boots-on-the-ground” and digital outreach.
We facilitate community learning sessions for our community partners, other interested volunteer organizations, and homelessness service providers to improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and access. Trainings and relevant materials will be made available for public on-demand access.
For questions or suggestions around these sessions, contact our Volunteer and Training Coordinator, Kathreen Daria at kdaria@sacstepsforward.org.
Promoting vaccine awareness starts with education. Below are resources to help engage people experiencing homelessness with accurate, up-to-date information about vaccines and other COVID-19 health and safety measures.
We have compiled a toolkit of useful federal, state, and local resources. View now!
Additional Resources
SSF Community Spotlight
Journal Articles
Media Articles
Additional Resources
We will continue to update this section with the latest COVID-19 articles.
Sacramento Steps Forward is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) charity serving the Sacramento region. EIN# 27-4907397
