Last Friday, Governor Newsom unveiled Housing for the Harvest, a new program that will offer temporary hotel housing to farm and food processing workers who need to isolate due to COVID-19.
Initial efforts will focus on the Central Valley, Central Coast, and Imperial Valley regions, as these regions have the highest number of agricultural workers. The program will expand as other counties or regions with agricultural workers opt in.
The State will book hotel rooms in participating counties for workers who need to self-isolate for up to 14 days. The State will coordinate with local administrators who manage the program.
Participants must meet these criteria:
- Work in California food processing or agriculture
- Meet FEMA non-congregate sheltering criteria for COVID-19:
- Have tested positive, or
- Been exposed as documented by a public health official or medical health professional
- Be unable to self-isolate at home
Booking links and more details are coming soon.
California has received FEMA approval for non-congregate sheltering during the public health crisis. The State will seek reimbursement for hotel costs for this program at 75% federal cost share. Costs for transportation, meals, wellness checks and any other services will be identified at the county level. Philanthropy may cover part or all of the costs. Some costs may be eligible for FEMA reimbursement by the county.
Local administrators will be identified in coordination with the State government. They may be a county or city agency, tribe, non-profit organization, or a philanthropic organization. Locally-funded administrators will:
- Serve as primary point of contact with workers who need isolation housing
- Verify participant eligibility
- Coordinate with the State to book rooms
- Provide services at the hotel site including transportation, meals and wellness checks
- Ensure services are provided in the participant’s language
- Collect data required for FEMA reimbursement
Click here to access additional information on the Housing for the Harvest program
