MADERA — In response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s Project Roomkey initiative, Madera County has formed a partnership to identify at-risk members of the community who may need shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The partnership consists of the Madera County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), Community Action Partnership of Madera County (CAPMC), Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH), Madera County Department of Social Services (MCDSS), Madera County Department of Corrections, Madera County Road Department, and Love Madera, a nonprofit volunteer group.
At-risk clients will be able to access this program through referrals from local shelters, healthcare providers and law enforcement. The information is forwarded to uniformed MCSO, who respond with MCDPH and CAPMC personnel to the potential client’s currently known location.
Once in contact with the client, this team determines if the client is exhibiting symptoms, has had contact with a known COVID-19 patient, has proper medical care access and appropriate shelter for possible quarantine and/or isolation.
The team also assesses what support services this client may need such as food, housing, childcare, medication or animal care. Depending upon the client’s ability to meet their own needs and health risk factors, they are placed in local hotels for shelter and other needs are also addressed.
Once placed within a hotel, Love Madera volunteers deliver food, provided by Madera County Department of Corrections.
Madera County Social Services facilitates childcare and medication.
Animal care needs are met by Central California Animal Disaster Team.
Madera County Department of Public Health facilitates any testing needed.
The Madera County Road Department is providing Madera County Connections buses for transport needs.
Hotels participating in this project are doing so under a county contract for services. As contact information for these hotels becomes available, the partnership will provide that.
The funds for this program are provided through FEMA Disaster Assistance Funding — with the county and state general funds providing the remaining 25 percent of funding.
