Group 4 To Open for the Vaccine and Other Updates
North Carolina announced that residents in Group 4 who have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk of serious illness and people who live in certain congregate settings will be eligible for vaccination beginning March 17, with the remainder of Group 4 eligible beginning April 7. However, Mecklenburg County must have the vaccine available. When it is available, you may register HERE. I will keep you updated.
If you or know anyone who is homebound, you may now request a home visit for your vaccine. You may apply HERE.
If you have more than one appointment for a vaccine (as you are trying to get the best day and time for you) PLEASE CANCEL any other appointments you have. We don't want to waste a single dose, and we are more likely to have leftover vaccine at the end of the day if there are no-shows. You will have to contact the provider with whom you have your extra appointment.
Vaccinations may also be available through the following pharmacies: Harris Teeter Walgreens CVS
Our hospital systems also are vaccinating: Atrium or Novant.
If you are 65 or older, you may request a sanitizing cleaning for your house. You must be able to leave for one hour. Register HERE.
If you are interested in the Covid Recovery Task Force town hall on March 18, please sign up HERE. The task force is made up of community members. Please plan to attend to hear some of their recommendations.
If you have received the vaccine, please remember to continue to wear your mask in public.
********************************************************************
UPDATE ON ENCAMPMENT HOTELS
We were able to transfer 210 people from Tent City to one of two hotels (note: not all were living in Tent City. Many came from other areas to be able to access temporary housing, but no one was turned away). For various reasons, voluntarily or involuntarily, we now have 191 guests living in 174 rooms in the hotels. This number does change. Along with our many partners, the county is providing wrap-around services such as mental and physical health services and substance abuse counseling. The ultimate goal is to get more permanent housing.
The efforts to communicate with the neighbors living in Tent City, thereby allowing the county to get them safely to the hotels, belongs almost solely to the grassroots organizations who had been forming the necessary relationships to build that trust. They are, but not limited to, Block Love Charlotte, Hearts Beat As One Foundation, Hearts for the Invisible Charlotte, Just Do It Movement, Project Outpour, Leah’s Hopes and Dreams, Roof Above, Salvation Army Center of Hope and Supportive Housing Communities. The county is grateful for the willingness of these amazing groups and their volunteers to accomplish what was once seen as an impossible feat: move our Tent City homeless neighbors to hotels in 72 hours.
The Sheriff's Department has agreed to provide security. Again, we are grateful for our partners.
We have a long way to go. And please remember, just because we aren't seeing our homeless neighbors so visibly in tents around Charlotte as we once did so very recently, our homeless population still exists and is worthy of your concern and care.
As always, please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.