The Impact of COVID-19 on the Homeless Population

Eyal Gutentag on 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... continue reading

This piece originally appeared on https://www.eyalgutentag.com/new-blog/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-homeless-population

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eyal Gutentag on Parenting During the Age of COVID-19

Image
Parenting During the Age of COVID-19 - A Time for Kindness, Patience, and Flexibility- Eyal Gutentag Article originally appeared on  https://www.eyalgutentag.com/ These are difficult times. On top of the usual stress that comes with parenting, you now have coronavirus to worry about. For valid reasons, many of us are moving through our weeks with heightened anxiety. You may have to make tough decisions about health practices, schooling, and social distancing during this time. The grocery store is full of panic, and there is little that you can control. When you lose your sense of control, it is tempting to take it back in any area you can. This can manifest by micromanaging your kids, creating detailed schedules, and cracking down on screen-time. It’s true - this can be a wonderful time for creativity! But, while you have good intentions, you must remember: our kids are anxious too. Our children may not fully understand what is happening in the economy, or politi...
Read more

Eyal Gutentag on Understanding the Struggle of Food Insecurity During the Covid-19 Global Pandemic

Image
  Eyal Gutentag  on Understanding the Struggle of Food Insecurity During the Covid-19 Global Pandemic The coronavirus pandemic has negatively impacted people around the world in a variety of ways. Food insecurity is an issue that has only been magnified by the COVID-19 crisis. Since the pandemic began, food insecurity has greatly increased in the United States and globally. People all over the country are unsure of where they will get their next meal. By the end of the year, the number of people facing hunger worldwide could reach 265 million.   Families with children have been particularly impacted. Many parents rely on schools to provide nutrition for their kids throughout the week. Together, the USDA National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program serve nearly 35 million children each day, delivering vital nutrition and financial assistance to families in need. Now, with a large portion of schools shut down, a majori...
Read more

Interview with Eyal Gutentag

Image
Eyal Gutentag Article originally appeared on Eyal Gutentag The workforce, as well as the work environment, is changing. No longer do employees get hired, work for the same company their entire careers, and retire to a small house with a white picket fence. Employment today is much more fluid, and employees do not seek safety first as their impetus to accept job offers. Modern employees want to work for a company with a mission they believe in, where they can expand their abilities and challenge themselves. Such big changes may sound like they are riding in on a wave of chaos. However, there is a definite order to the employment evolution. The  Pew Research Center  found that millennials make up the largest portion of the modern workforce at 56 million strong. Millennials, also collectively referred to as Generation Y, are individuals who were born in the 1980s and 1990s and so first entered the workforce in the last years of the 20th century and the early ones of ...
Read more