Homelessness during COVID-19

Life has certainly shifted a lot these past few weeks. Since coming home from school, I’ve stayed inside my house almost 24/7, aside from going for a run or the occasional trip to the store. My mom wears gloves when she goes to buy groceries, and we wait in lines (six feet apart, of course) just to get into the store. Spending time with my grandparents now means having short conversations while I stand on my front porch and they stand in the driveway.

Throughout this strange time of social distancing and isolation, I’ve been thinking about the unique challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness. How do you #stayhome if you have no home to go to? 

I decided to explore how the two cities I call home have responded to the COVID-19 crisis, and what efforts have been made to keep local homeless populations safe. While what’s reflected here is only a snapshot of what’s been done to protect the nearly 568,000 Americans who experience homelessness on any given night, I hope this gives you some idea of how local officials and organizations have chosen to respond to the situation.

Salem, Oregon

Oregon has the seventh-largest homeless population and the fourth-highest rate of homelessness in the country. Growing up here in Salem, I was very aware of how homelessness impacted my local community. My church was part of a network that provided temporary housing for families experiencing homelessness, and I remember setting up cots and partitions in our gym a few times a year. Over the years, various campsites have appeared all around the downtown area, routinely followed by “sweeps” and bans on camping as our city struggles to figure out how to balance providing shelter for those experiencing homelessness with concerns over safety and public health. 

Now, because of COVID-19, much of that has changed. Local advocates for people experiencing homelessness began raising concerns in early March—weeks before Oregon’s stay-at-home order was issued—that those experiencing homelessness would be particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus due to higher rates of preexisting health conditions and lack of access to basic hygiene and sanitation. The Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, which had been preparing for a potential outbreak since January, began placing high-risk individuals in motels. Local shelters also began taking steps to follow social distancing practices; however, this meant that less shelter space was available, and some individuals had to be turned away. 

On March 17, Salem’s city council declared a state of emergency and banned public gatherings of two or more people in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading to our homeless population. The city also decided to remove a ban on camping in several local parks, hoping that this would help people to spread out and maintain more social distance while accounting for the loss of shelter space. 

Oregon’s governor has also taken steps to address those at risk of becoming homeless by ordering a moratorium on residential evictions, which should prevent new additions to the state’s homeless population for the time being.

Nashville, Tennessee

The city of Nashville officially issued a local “safer at home” order on March 22, a week after the first restaurant and bar closures began and local universities transitioned to online learning. Between the COVID-19 outbreak and the tornado that touched down in Nashville at the beginning of March, local nonprofits and homeless outreach groups have been stretched thin.  Shelters and day centers such as Room In The Inn have had to end their overnight programs early and scale back outreach activities. 

Room In The Inn has, however, been able to continue basic services, such as meals and access to restrooms, and is providing shelter to its highest-risk clients. Nashville Rescue Mission, which serves over 800 people every night, has been able to continue its overnight program by opening up more space within its facility and expanding its hygiene and cleaning procedures. The Nashville Fairgrounds has become an alternate shelter site established by a group of local missions, including Room In The Inn and Nashville Rescue Mission. Three such facilities have been opened up: one for those who are healthy, one for those with potential symptoms of COVID-19 and who are awaiting test results, and one for those who test positive but don’t need hospitalization. As of April 3, the fairgrounds shelter had one resident who tested positive for the virus and five more waiting for test results; all were being isolated. 

How can I help?

In the interest of social distancing, most (if not all) shelters are ending their volunteer programs for the time being. However, shelters and day centers are continuing to provide services to the best of their ability for those experiencing homelessness, but some face resource shortages due to a decline in donations. If you have the financial ability, donating to shelters, day centers, and especially food banks during this time will be crucial in helping them meet demand. 

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Emma Fagan

Hey! I’m Emma, and I’m the Environment and Sustainability Editor here at Novel Hand. I’m a senior at Vanderbilt University, majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences and Political Science. My work focuses on the intersection between environmental concerns and humanitarian issues such as justice, health, and poverty. When I’m not studying in a coffee shop somewhere, you’ll find me reading, running, climbing a rock wall, or listening to every genre of music under the sun. If you have questions, ideas, or just want to chat, feel free to contact me at emma.fagan@vanderbilt.edu!

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