As the pandemic began, The Primavera Foundation, Inc., in Tucson, Arizona, worked with the city and Pima County to set aside hotel rooms for people experiencing homelessness who needed to quarantine because of exposure to COVID-19 or because they had symptoms. In recent months, staff partnered with Pima County Health Department and El Rio Federally Qualified Health Care Centers to reach out to residents, people living in shelters, and those awaiting housing. Healthcare workers provided vaccination opportunities at two Primavera locations: The Emergency Men's Shelter and the Homeless Intervention and Prevention Drop-in program.
"During the first round of outreach, we were able to bring vaccines to 35 people experiencing homelessness," says Peggy Hutchison, Primavera's CEO. "That number underscored how many people without a safe place to call home are reluctant to get the vaccine because they're worried about what will happen if they have a reaction. Where do they go if they're sick?" Now, the NeighborWorks network organization is working with the city and county again, to try to set aside hotel rooms for individuals who will receive a vaccination.
"Our role is to minimize barriers for access," Hutchison says. Primavera staff, who, as front-line workers received vaccinations in one of the first phases, have focused on getting vaccines to their constituencies while providing masks and hygiene products. "We were concerned for vulnerable populations early on, especially Indigenous and Latino communities in Tucson and southern Arizona," Hutchison says. "We've been educating however we can, talking about it, posting flyers with pictures." They've partnered to provide testing as well as vaccines.
So have other NeighborWorks network organizations, who joined together for a conversation recently on how to best reach out to communities, particularly communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Decisions about receiving the vaccine are up to each individual. But NeighborWorks network organizations are trying to create access, while also talking about the benefits. According to a NeighborWorks survey, 114 organizations reported some type of COVID-19 vaccination activity. Many provided education and outreach; 76 organizations signed up residents and community members for vaccinations, while 69 organizations worked with partners to bring vaccination clinics to lesser-served areas. As of March 31, network organizations had hosted 343 clinics where 10,613 vaccine doses were administered.
"During the COVID-19 pandemic, the NeighborWorks network has demonstrated their work in providing ongoing and sustained response to community needs," says Romi Hall, director of Healthy Homes and Communities for NeighborWorks. "From shelter in place to COVID-19 vaccinations, the network is continuing to ensure the communities they work in stay well, even if it is outside of their day-to-day business."
In some cases, there have been logistical obstacles to getting the vaccine. In other cases, there is hesitancy stemming from inequities and mistrust. Network organizations are playing key roles in delivering information, supporting coordination around vaccinations, connecting with hard-to-reach populations and hosting clinics on-site, she says.
Famicos has identified that transportation to clinics is an issue, especially for low-income senior and disabled residents. The organization has used its own bus and chartered others. A $20,000 grant from NeighborWorks America, staff members anticipate, will help them connect even more people with vaccines. Mowery says they'll also leverage the grant to apply for a federal grant to overcome vaccine hesitancy in communities experiencing health disparities.
"We plan to charter more buses to get residents to vaccine clinics," says Mowery, who is leading the project, a joint effort between marketing and Community Building & Engagement. Famicos has also transported residents from the surrounding community, keeping track of who is on the first shot and who is on the second. Because many residents and people experiencing homelessness don't have the computer access needed to register for the vaccine, Famicos registers each busload as a group, then works on individual registrations as they travel to the vaccination site.
"We started the second week in February, relying on partnerships with health organizations to make it work," Mowery says. "We're trying to overcome health disparity as best we can, doing the things that Famicos is good at doing. It's challenging, but very rewarding."
Mowery says that when individuals get the second shot, they are all smiles. "They're more confident about doing things, about being able to go and get groceries – simple things like that."
Famicos has planned a summer door-knocking campaign. The organization hastranslators ready to help. The plans include educating the community about the vaccine and the importance of being vaccinated.
"The biggest vaccine ambassadors are the people who receive the vaccine and tell their neighbors about it," she says. "We have 800 units. When you put it in context with our 250, we're not even halfway there." She expects more people to get vaccinated when they see that the first 250 are okay.
