Homelessness and the COVID-19 Pandemic
As part of Community Action Partnership of Providence’s PhotoVoice program, Victoria Caruso and I investigated how COVID-19 was shaping the lives of Rhode Islanders experiencing homelessness during August of 2020. All photos are my own. Writing coauthored with Victoria Caruso.
For those experiencing homelessness in Rhode Island, the coronavirus pandemic has further complicated the question of where to stay to keep safe. In a public health crisis where contact with large groups is discouraged, congregate shelters pose an increased threat to a population already among the most vulnerable to infection. According to a May study across five RI homeless shelters, higher rates of infection were found in shelters that were more densely populated, had more transient populations, and instituted fewer social distancing practices for sleeping arrangements or mealtimes (Samuels, Karb, Vanjani, Trimbur, & Napoli, 2020).
At Harrington Hall—Rhode Island’s largest shelter—the early pandemic sparked “mayhem,” said its operations manager, Ronnie Young. Nationwide supply shortages left the shelter’s 112 men unprotected for weeks. “I told them to wrap towels around their faces at times,” said Young. At several other shelters, guests reported a lack of masks and overcrowding. Several interviewed individuals who are housing insecure said they left one of Rhode Island’s shelters to live in a tent during the pandemic. While these individuals reported feeling “safer” and “more at peace,” they also described greater difficulty obtaining resources and a greater uncertainty about where or how to get tested for COVID-19.
During the stay-at-home order, shelters were open to guests all day. However, several shelters also stopped taking in new guests to protect those currently staying there from further exposure. “The shelters were full, nobody was taking us,” said a 31-year old single mother, who had to live with her daughter in a car for some time. Between March 1st and August 15th, the average wait time for individuals seeking shelter in Rhode Island was 68 days and 53 days for families.
With funding from the state, clients across Rhode Island’s shelters were able to stay at local hotels to practice social distancing during the height of COVID-19. Length of stays were scattered from April to August and guests were either transitioned back into shelters or housed at the end of their stay. Guests and their case managers positively reviewed the initiative, stating that hotels should be utilized as long as the pandemic persists. While guests stayed in hotels, caseworkers were able to secure them housing at historic rates. Amos House Case Manager Laura Harris credited an increase in funding, access to clients, and landlord incentives as key in recently housing 66 individuals. Though social distancing and the use of hotels were helpful in preventing the spread of coronavirus among the homeless population, the best long-term solution to keep those experiencing homelessness safe is adequate housing. Pursuing rapid access to affordable housing is a cost-effective way to end homelessness in RI and prevent future outbreaks.
Access to resources has been one of the greatest challenges for people experiencing homelessness throughout the course of the pandemic. People who are housing insecure often rely on public services such as food banks, libraries, public transportation, and government offices for food stamps, unemployment, and SSI—all of which have either closed their buildings or been modified in light of the coronavirus crisis. Access to basic hygiene has also been limited during the pandemic with public shower units like Shower to Empower closed for months. Amos House’s emergency shelter, made up of classrooms, could only offer extremely limited shower accessibility through Crossroads.
Already existing barriers to technology among those experiencing homelessness have been worsened by the closure of libraries and community centers. The shift to contacting organizations online or by phone has created challenges for those who don’t own a cell phone or a place to charge their phones. When individuals did have access to a phone, they reported that it was often difficult to get in contact with offices and service providers.
The closure of libraries, a primary access point to the internet, meant that people had trouble getting information about COVID-19. Harrington Hall, RI’s largest shelter, had to remove its TV due to the health risks associated with people gathering around the screen. Many people explained that they didn’t know where to go if they needed to get tested, or what to do if they got sick.
Several food banks and meal sites had to shut down at the start of the pandemic as congregate environments posed a safety risk, and some organizations have experienced a shortage of volunteers. While many smaller organizations remain closed, others, like Mathewson St. Church, have found ways to adapt: cutting down their kitchen staff and shifting to a takeout option which is distributed outside. Volunteers at Mathewson St. say that they’ve seen an increase in need for resources like food and clothing as the pandemic has continued.
A lack of access to resources is an issue that predates Coronavirus’s spread and has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Providing more public charging stations, or better funding food banks and other service providers are important steps that the state can take to help people now, though the ultimate solution is to provide adequate housing for people. Once someone has a consistent place to stay, they can more easily obtain internet connection, have a stable mailing address, and hold a job. Creating more affordable housing units and continuing to encourage landlords to rent to people experiencing homelessness, like the state has done during the pandemic, will both help address the unavailability of resources that has revealed itself during the pandemic and address the issue of homelessness itself.