When Your Health Depends on a Home: Denver Needs Long-Term Solutions for Homelessness
On Monday, the Denver City Council approved the extension of two additional contracts held by the Department of Housing Stability (HOST) with motel/hotel operators to temporarily house approximately 800 people experiencing homelessness. In the midst of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, this extension is a lifeline to so many people who are unable to “stay at home” because they don’t have one. But is it enough?
The connection between housing and health has never been more apparent. People without housing faced exceedingly more complex problems at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. Physical distancing requirements in shelters meant that there were fewer beds available. Fears about living in congregate settings with the threat of an aerosolized virus kept people from accessing what limited shelter space existed. Public health guidelines also recommended limiting interactions to a single household which discouraged people without homes from “doubling up” with friends and family to decrease the virus spread.
For people experiencing homelessness — who lack access to restrooms, hand-washing stations, and personal protective equipment like masks — the ability to stay safe during this public health crisis became more complicated as each day went by. This left many with no option other than to sleep outside, in tents, in cars, or other unimaginable places that lacked safety and security from the raging pandemic.
The ability to stay safe during this pandemic depends, almost exclusively, on having a safe place to isolate from exposure to the virus or to recover and quarantine after a positive COVID-19 test. The extension of these city contracts will continue to bring the security of “home” to 800 people in dire need, including those with high-risk health conditions who would likely suffer severe health complications, including death, if they were to contract COVID-19. These hotel/motel rooms also offer stability and the opportunity to begin working on long-term housing options that might not otherwise be able to be prioritized by those faced with the complex challenges of being unhoused.
Read more: https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2021/01/when-your-health-depends-on-a-home-denver-needs-long-term-solutions-for-homelessness/33823/