New research suggests that people experiencing homelessness who contract COVID-19 are twice as likely to be hospitalized, two to four times as likely to need critical care, and two to three times as likely to die.
As we are directed to stay in our homes and to practice social distancing, it is important to remember that people experiencing homelessness and the frontline organizations and people who provide essential services for this population don’t have that luxury. Given that shelters are crowded, it is challenging for our neighbors who rely on them to keep the recommended 6 feet distance. The streets have the same risks as always, and a new risk of contracting a virus that is particularly dangerous for seniors and those with underlying health conditions.
Prioritizing a Vulnerable Population
Our response must prioritize this vulnerable population, with the majority of people experiencing chronic homelessness falling into the CDC's special risk population for COVID-19. This is exactly why we created the Partnership to End Homelessness: to ensure that everyone in DC has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.
Even without a pandemic, people experiencing homelessness are extremely vulnerable and face health challenges that are exacerbated by a lack of stable housing. With coronavirus putting an even greater strain on our community and its resources, we must do our part to support our neighbors who don’t have stable housing and the people and organizations working day and night, putting their own health at risk, to keep them safe.
Our Response to COVID-19
As we have seen COVID-19 spread across our community, The Community Foundation has been working with our partners to identify critical needs and to provide a mechanism for the public to offer support. To do this work, we have established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.
As part of our regional response, we have developed a Homelessness and Housing Working Group made up of government partners and funders in the area. Together, we have been reaching out to our nonprofit partners and advocates in the community to identify needs and ways we can support the work they are doing.
To date we have:
Converted our initial grant funding through the Partnership to End Homelessness to general operating support. With these funds, grantees can now respond to emerging needs of people experiencing homelessness as it relates to COVID-19.
Awarded $805,000 to organizations working to support people experiencing homelessness through the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.
Our first grants focused on medical needs of people experiencing homelessness in DC and Montgomery County.
Our second round of grants include essential providers who are responding to immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness.
A third round of grants is listed online along with our other priority areas.
This work is just getting started and we are committed to making sure that people experiencing homelessness and the organizations that are supporting them in this challenging time have the resources they need.
What You Can Do to Help
Make a donation to the homeless service organizations that you already support.
Call your representatives and ask them to make sure funds for homeless and housing programs are included in their response. This will help ensure that the federal, county, and local government response to COVID-19 includes resources to provide housing stability for low-income individuals and people experiencing homelessness; and that access to healthcare, housing, food assistance, and other services provided in response to COVID-19 are made available to everyone, regardless of income, immigration status, or insurance.
Contribute to our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Every dollar will make a difference for our neighbors impacted by this crisis.
If you are a nonprofit and would like to share information about community/nonprofit needs related to homelessness and housing, contact Jennifer Olney and Silvana Straw, who lead our Homelessness and Housing Working Group.
If you would like to make a donation, please visit our website or contact Angela Willingham, Associate Vice President, Development.
Now more than ever, it will take all of us working together to prevent and end homelessness in DC. We hope you will join us.