ON THE COVID-19 FRONT LINE AND HURTING: ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF PROVIDERS FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN BERKELEY AND ALAMEDA COUNTY

Purpose: COVID-19 poses an enormous threat to the physical health and wellbeing of youth experiencing homelessness (YEH), not only as an infection, but to a far greater extent, as a threat to their ability to meet their basic needs for shelter, food, and safety. From a life course perspective, however, the greatest risk to this group of adolescents and emerging adults is that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional obstacles in youth's paths to becoming independent adults. More than ever, providers for YEH are the lifelines for their clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a rapid needs assessment to describe the needs of organizations working with YEH while facing the COVID-19 crisis in the City of Berkeley. Methods: We conducted interviews with 14 representatives from 13 service providers who serve YEH in the City of Berkeley and Alameda County in April 2020. Providers for YEH were recruited from a range of organizations, including shelters, transitional housing sites, health care clinics, and school districts. Interviews queried needs, challenges, and suggestions of providers for YEH during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whenever possible and with consent of interviewees, phone or zoom interviews were audio recorded. Interviewers also took notes during interviews, and some responses were sent via email. The research team entered emerging themes into a spreadsheet, which was used to create a codebook. Additional analysis of each interview was performed by a second member of the team who did not conduct the interview. Results: Providers for YEH demonstrated strengths and creativity during this challenging time. Providers expressed multiple needs and challenges. Organizations faced challenges and limitations to expanding shelter and housing in which youth and staff could appropriately practice social distancing. Providers experienced a severe shortage of supplies, facilities and resources for staff and youth to prevent transmission, as well as to ensure continued communication with youth who remained unsheltered. Providers described increased obstacles to adequate, appropriate, and coordinated physical and mental health services, including services for ongoing care for non-COVID-19 conditions. Providers further reported inadequate financial and mental health resources to support staff given increased needs and risks and absence of volunteers. Finally, they lacked adequate information to conduct their work including up-to-date public policy, for yout