The Impact of COVID-19 on the Homeless Population

Eyal Gutentag on the impact of COVID-19 on the homeless population

The homeless population in Los Angeles faces incredible challenges every day. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, problems within the homeless community have only multiplied. The crisis has had an impact on all of us, but those who don’t have a safe space to quarantine or maintain basic hygiene have been left especially vulnerable. California currently has more than 150,000 homeless, reporting the highest numbers in the country. Governor Gavin Newsom estimates that 60,000 homeless could ultimately contract the virus.

Throughout the state, many homeless shelters have closed or reached maximum capacity. For some people, staying in the close quarters with other potentially sick individuals feels like too much of a risk. Soup kitchens and other resources have closed, run out of food, or lost volunteers. For those who are living on the streets, the pandemic is a crisis on top of another major crisis.

Many homeless individuals were already health compromised before the pandemic hit. The novel coronavirus is primarily spread through droplets released by coughing or sneezing. These symptoms spread rapidly through crowded homeless encampments. The Center for Disease Control’s top safety measures include sheltering in place, washing your hands frequently, and staying 6 feet from other people. For most homeless people, following these directives are incredibly difficult if not impossible.

In packed areas there are always higher risks of contagious diseases. Most homeless shelters that are still open do not have proper space to keep people they are housing safely distanced. In order for these shelters to keep individuals further apart, they have had to lower their maximum capacities. This has left even more people vulnerable on the streets.

Those who live outdoors primarily rely on group settings to get their essential needs met. For many, the only way to eat is to visit a crowded food bank. Before, many individuals relied on public restrooms in libraries or other businesses that are now closed. Without toilets, more people are left to defecate on the streets. People do not have access to running water or soap to wash their hands. Each individual problem in the system compounds the larger public health crisis.

The good news is, our local government has begun taking action towards getting our homeless off the streets. Earlier this month, Newsom announced Project Roomkey. Through the program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency “will pay 75% of costs associated with housing some homeless, including people who test positive or may have been exposed to the virus, and older homeless people and those with underlying health conditions.” Newsom has identified 15,000 hotel and motel rooms throughout the state which could be rented to house the homeless population. So far, 4,211 individuals are being housed in some of those rooms.

Last week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that the city would be sending medical teams to the streets. The goal would be to screen as many people as possible for the virus. The hope is that by offering COVID-19 field tests, individuals suffering from the virus can be identified and offered transportation to shelters or hotel rooms to be quarantined.

The impact of COVID-19 on our already struggling homeless population is a tragedy. While there is no quick solution to this pandemic, we must continue to take steps to protect our most vulnerable and stop the spread of the virus throughout our communities.  - Eyal Gutentag