COVID-19 Update: Curbside Voting plus update on Homeless Services

Hot off the presses!

The City of Madison has reserved four parking spots on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. outside the City-County Building and the Madison Municipal Building for curbside voting starting Friday, March 20th. Voters who are high-risk for COVID-19 can register to vote and/or cast their ballot from their vehicle. High-risk populations include older adults and people with chronic health conditions. Curbside voting will be offered 8:00am - 6:00pm, Monday - Friday, March 20th - April 3rd.

Signs will be posted at each of the designated stalls prompting voters who need to use the curbside voting option to call the City Clerk's Office. A pair of election officials will be sent out to the voter's vehicle to assist the voter in registering (if needed) and voting.

The City Clerk's Office is offering this option to those voters who are at high-risk for the virus COVID-19. For those not at high risk, in-person absentee voting is available in the Clerk's Office, City-County Building, Room 103, and in the Madison Municipal Building, Room 153. More sites may be added over the coming days; please keep an eye on the City Clerk's in-person absentee voting page for the most up-to-date information.

"I am so grateful to City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl and her staff for their innovative work and quick turnaround on this issue. This is already an incredibly busy time for them and they are doing an amazing job," said Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. "City staff have been working tirelessly to not only provide essential services, but are also going above and beyond in their service to the entire community."

Voters are also able to request absentee ballots to be sent to them through the mail at myvote.wi.gov . The deadline to request an absentee ballot to be sent to you is Thursday, April 2nd. "

Also, related to Homeless Services, here's an update from Dane Cty Exec Joe Parisi: 

Dane County Books Dozens of Hotel Rooms to Ensure Safe Social Distancing at Homeless Shelters

72 Rooms and Counting Will Be Available to Families Living in Shelter and Individuals Experiencing Homelessness Who Are at High-Risk for COVID-19 in Dane County

Today, County Executive Joe Parisi announced that Dane County has partnered with several hotels in Madison to secure 72 hotel rooms and counting to ensure safe social distancing for individuals experiencing homelessness in Dane County. The rooms will be used specifically for families experiencing homelessness who were staying in overnight shelter, and individuals experiencing homelessness who are considered high-risk in multiple categories for COVID-19. Move-in starts today. Dane County is allocating over $150,000 for the rooms and to provide these residents with meals. Supportive services will be provided by a number of service agencies.

Additional hotel partners are being sought to meet the need for serving individuals at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Ideal locations are properties on a major bus line and/or centrally located, and those with microwaves, fridges, or similar amenities to aid with meals while guests are staying in the rooms. Businesses interested in partnering should e-mail: emergencymangement@countyofdane.com.

Additionally, The Salvation Army will temporarily relocate over 20 families staying in their shelter to increase social distancing overnight and during the day. This will allow The Salvation Army to serve single women at their facility 24/7. Both of these actions will reduce the number of guests at The Beacon homeless day resource center during the day, and help increase social distancing there until alternative shelter can be activated for families, women, and men, respectively.

City of Madison staff and providers have finalized protocols for isolating residents who are waiting for COVID-19 test results or otherwise symptomatic. This effort will help with social distancing and give residents who are vulnerable and ill a safe place to recover outside of a shelter. City staff have located alternative shelter possibilities for men and women. It will take time for these spaces to be turned into shelters, and skilled volunteers will need to be identified to help run them.

Dane County has also secured $12,000 in extra funding for The Salvation Army's case management program to help families and single women in need of shelter find safe shelter alternatives. This effort will help reserve limited shelter capacity for those most in need and further support social distancing. The County is also allocating funds to locate additional hand washing stations and portable toilets in areas where individuals who sleep outside spend time--promoting access to hygiene during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic."

Lastly, next time you go out grocery shopping, leave some for your fellow humans. We get through this by being big-hearted, not by turning inward.

Be well. Be Safe. Be Kind.

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