Under what condition should you initiate a COVID-19 related shelter assessment?

• A. The client is COVID-19 positive only.
• B. The client expresses interest and the system is accepting referrals.
• C. The client must meet a strict age criterion.
• D. The client expresses interest and the COVID-19 Shelter System is accepting referrals, OR if the client is COVID-19 positive, as verified by a medical professional.

Answer: (D)

Initiate a COVID-19 related shelter assessment when the client expresses interest and the COVID-19 Shelter System is accepting referrals, OR if the client is COVID-19 positive, as verified by a medical professional. This ensures you start intake only when the system is open to referrals, so the referral is captured correctly in HMIS, and it also handles health status appropriately by requiring medical verification for positive cases to arrange proper placement and health protections. The other options miss either the system’s referral status, the need for health verification, or introduce unrelated criteria like age.