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Kai Torrie explores how some of the most vulnerable, yet ignored, members of society have been affected by coronavirus. This article describes the heightened hardships faced by the homeless community, and identifies the measures taken by certain governments. Many have been left without a bed for the night, some are struggling to receive meals, and others cannot afford essential healthcare.
It is a well-known fact that homelessness is incompatible with health. Experts like Margot Kusher, who studies homelessness, have been saying so for decades. According to her, this pandemic is "an enormous crisis superimposed on an existing crisis". It is impossible to expect the homeless to adhere to the imposed guidelines, when the most simple of instructions: "stay at home" cannot be followed . They have no home to stay at. The decision to enforce instructions that not everyone can follow is a difficult one, when there are an estimated 320,000 people without a fixed abode to stay at. This equates to 1 in every 201 Brits, and is an increase of 4% on the previous year’s figures.
Moreover, the homeless struggle to maintain good hygiene, which increases their vulnerability to this virus. The fact that, even before this virus, all too many people avoided the homeless shows just how little empathy we often have for those in less fortunate situations than us. Basic hygiene habits are essential to keeping the virus at bay, but those without these facilities are left exposed to it. In addition to not being able to maintain good hygiene habits or a healthy diet, unhoused people disproportionately suffer from lung disease, heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), and cancer, which are all risk factors for COVID-19’s most severe and deadly symptoms.
Some shelters for the homeless are either closed or full, with most being unable to follow social distancing guidelines as they don’t have the space to do so. Shelters that do have the space are, in some cases, rearranging the furniture in order to follow said guidelines. This inevitably means that there are fewer beds in shelters and more people are being turned out onto the streets. As well as this, most soup kitchens are closed, meaning that there is little to no access to food for those who live on the streets. A deteriorating diet can increase a person’s risk of any of the aforementioned ailments which could lead to the development of the symptoms of COVID-19.
However, the UK government has taken some action to house the homeless while also following social distancing guidelines. As part of the measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, certain businesses, including retail selling non-essential goods, and other venues must close. Hotels, hostels and B&Bs are included. There are, however, a few exceptions, such as providing accommodation to key workers and vulnerable people, including the homeless, through arrangements with local authorities and other public bodies. Questions certainly do begin to arise as to why such said services were not offered before the pandemic.
Furthermore, it is very difficult for the homeless to access any kind of medical treatment in places like the US where iall medical care must be paid for. With no fixed income, it is certainly unfair to expect the homeless to pay for any sort of treatment if they are experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19. A large proportion of the homeless population cannot find jobs, as employers require an address before you can be given any sort of paid career. Additionally, the homeless population are unable to be notified of any changes to the lockdown situation, as many of them cannot be contacted by the government or health services. For example, in the UK, certain groups of people have been advised to stay at home for 12 weeks, but the homeless may not be aware of this decision - let alone be able to follow it. A large proportion of the homeless community do not have any means of being contacted, as they do not possess a fixed address, phone, or any technology on which they can be emailed.
As many people feel trapped inside their own homes, it is easy to forget about those who are stuck outside, unsheltered, and enduring unpredictable weather conditions. While it is important not to dismiss one another’s struggle, it is crucial to draw attention to the most vulnerable members of society.
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