The health of our nation and our unsheltered population are inseparably linked. The ripple effects of a COVID-19 outbreak among the homeless in our communities will impact each of us and the health systems already stretched so thin.
Modern Healthcare
Across the country, 500,000 people are without a home, with thousands of workers on the front lines serving this population in shelters, encampments and social service agencies. Healthcare workers, emergency shelter staff, street outreach teams and other providers must be equipped to handle the inevitable outbreak of COVID-19 among our homeless populations. To protect our communities, they need clear guidance and protocols to prevent the worst outcomes, assess those who are most vulnerable and ill, and treat those suffering.