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COVID-19 Accelerated This West Virginia Community's Efforts to End Homelessness

Taylor Sisk

May 05, 2020 |

100 Days in Appalachia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Clarksburg, West Virginia

West Virginians from Clarksburg mobilized to tackle the issue of homelessness once the pandemic highlighted the vulnerability faced by the homeless who could not shelter in place. Advocates came together to get people off the streets and into motel rooms paid for by nonprofits and organized by local government. The city looked 40 miles away, to the achievements of Morgantown, which was able to bring together different sectors to keep people off the streets. Immediate goals of keeping people safe from the virus are part of a long-term plan to create housing and provide mental and physical health services.

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Coronavirus pushed Seattle to treat homelessness differently. Will those changes last?

Scott Greenstone Anna Patrick Sydney Brownstone

May 03, 2020 |

The Seattle Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Prompted by the threat of COVID-19, Seattle and King County have rapidly taken steps to protect people experiencing homelessness with responses that activists have long sought. By moving hundreds of people out of crowded shelters into hotels, installing hygiene stations, and suspending the removal of encampments, officials scrambled to prevent the spread of the virus in ways that advocates hope will remain the policy after the crisis has passed. But the crisis has also gutted government budgets, and so permanent solutions may still be elusive.

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‘It's miraculous' — no known coronavirus cases in Acadiana's homeless shelters

Christiaan Mader

April 27, 2020 |

The Current (Louisiana) |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Lafayette, Louisiana

Having learned from failures during the 1980s AIDS epidemic, an outreach center in Louisiana was uniquely prepared to take preventative measures as the coronavirus outbreak spread, and so far, the efforts have worked. Not one case has been reported as of yet at Acadiana CARES, and many are crediting that to the rapid intervention strategies that included strict adherence to social distancing and isolating anyone who had underlying conditions or was considered vulnerable.

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L.A. races to save 15,000 homeless people from coronavirus — one hotel room at a time

Doug Smith

April 18, 2020 |

Los Angeles Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

In Los Angeles, the city-led effort, Project Roomkey, is working to get 15,000 people experiencing homelessness into hotel rooms in the fight against COVID-19. Working with the LA Homeless Services Authority and state negotiators, partnerships with hotels are being developed and are already housing some of these individuals. While costing nearly $190 million, it is helping save lives and hopefully keeping hotels afloat.

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To address the homelessness crisis, some cities look to formal camps. Should ours?

Peter Rice

March 26, 2020 |

Downtown Albuquerque News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Albuquerque, New Mexico

A growing number of cities are creating formal camps to mitigate housing problems for those experiencing homelessness. The camps feature basic accommodations such as a three-walled structure under which a tent can be pitched - partly protected from cold, rain, and wind. The major draw is the around-the-clock security patrols in addition to portable bathrooms, trash collection, and on-site kitchen. The camps can also provide a place where people can leave their things while working temp jobs.

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Why More Homeless Shelters Are Welcoming Their Clients' Pets

Jill Kestler-D'Amours

March 25, 2020 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Studies show that between 5-10 percent of people living in homelessness are believed to have a pet, which could be a barrier to folks looking to spend the night in shelters that do not allow animals. Springs Rescue Mission in Colorado Springs is one of a number of shelters that are beginning to allow pets to board along with their owners in an effort to bring more people in. Animal companionship is a very important relationship and source of comfort and stability for someone experiencing homelessness. Some barriers still exist, however, like shelters that have little funding for sheltering pets.

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Angeleno offers free laundry service for the homeless, sews face masks to donate amid coronavirus

Madeleine Brand

March 24, 2020 |

KCRW |

Podcast |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

In Los Angeles, city officials are working to repurpose recreational buildings to house those experiencing homelessness, in the hopes of containing the spread of coronavirus. The city and shelters are also partnering with a mobile laundry truck, which has been in operation for years serving low-income communities and those who are experiencing homelessness, to provide free laundry for those who visit.

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Using Trauma-Informed Design, Buildings Become Tools for Recovery

Daliah Singer

January 22, 2020 |

Colorado Trust |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

In Denver, Colorado, one homeless shelter is using trauma-informed design to make residents feel more at home and less likely to sleep outside. Architects building Sanderson Apartments considered past traumas when choosing the layout, colors, furniture, and building materials. As a result, the physical environment is helping with the recovery process.

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Catholic Community Services, Pulse for Good aim to improve experience for homeless clients

Taylor Stevens

January 03, 2020 |

The Salt Lake Tribune |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

In Utah, Catholic Community Services uses an online survey platform called Pulse for Good to learn what members of vulnerable communities actually want and need. After generating input from the local homeless population, Catholic Community Services was able to tailor their support to items the population said that they needed, such as bus tokens, wipes to clean up coffee, and new shower faucet handles in the restrooms.

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In Toronto, Muslims offer ‘shelter bus' for the homeless

Aysha Khan

December 24, 2019 |

Religion News Service |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Canada, Toronto, Ontario

Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association Canada and Humanity First Canada teamed up to transform a bus into a mobile shelter for the homeless, complete with 20 beds, a kitchenette, a bathroom, internet, and more. The program is called Shelter Bus and, since launching in December 2019, has served over 1,000 people and reaches up to 50 people a day. The bus has been described as "heaven" by some guests, and they are now planning to have 3 buses by the next year.

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