Homelessness in America: The Search for Solutions During COVID-19

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health・2 minutes read

The US faces a homeless crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, with efforts to address factors like poverty, job loss, and mental illness through vaccination prioritization, data collection, and policy changes. Emphasis is placed on the need for community-level goals, accountability, resources, and reinvestment in housing to effectively end homelessness, with a focus on racial equity, mental health support, and coordinated efforts across sectors.

Insights

Howard Koh underscores the multifaceted causes of homelessness, including poverty, job loss, mental illness, and societal factors like rising rents and the COVID-19 impact, emphasizing the need to humanize homeless individuals.
Built For Zero's public health approach to homelessness addresses system failures, focusing on sustainable reduction rather than short-term programs, with an emphasis on data-driven, collective community responses to achieve lasting results.

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Recent questions

How many people were homeless in the US in January 2019?
Approximately 568,000 people were homeless in the US in January 2019.
What challenges did Boston's Health Care for the Homeless program face during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Boston's Health Care for the Homeless program faced challenges with high COVID-19 cases, isolation facilities, and hospital partnerships.
How did Project Roomkey in California protect homeless individuals during the pandemic?
Project Roomkey in California utilized hotel rooms to protect homeless individuals during the pandemic.
What is the focus of Built For Zero in addressing homelessness?
Built For Zero focuses on system failures in addressing homelessness.
What disparities in homelessness are exacerbated by structural racism?
Structural racism exacerbates disparities in homelessness, particularly affecting Black, Native American, and Latinx communities.

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Summary

00:00

Homelessness Crisis: Challenges and Responses in Pandemic

Jenifer McKim, a senior investigative reporter at GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting, moderates a panel discussion with Howard Koh, Jim O'Connell, Amanda Andere, Margot Kushel, and Rosanne Haggerty.
Approximately 568,000 people in the US were homeless in January 2019, with experts now calling for attention to the homeless crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A news clip from GBH News highlights the struggles of families facing eviction in Massachusetts, emphasizing the destabilizing impact on families and children.
Howard Koh shares his involvement in addressing homelessness, starting with a task force in Massachusetts to prevent deaths on the streets and highlighting the importance of humanizing homeless individuals.
Koh discusses the factors contributing to homelessness, including poverty, job loss, mental illness, and societal issues like rising rents and the impact of COVID-19.
The federal government's response to homelessness includes an eviction moratorium, foreclosure protections, and proposed housing assistance in the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package.
Jim O'Connell, with over 35 years of experience providing medical care to the homeless, shares the challenges faced by Boston's Health Care for the Homeless program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
O'Connell details the high rate of COVID-19 cases among homeless individuals in Boston shelters, leading to the need for isolation and quarantine facilities, as well as partnerships with hospitals to provide care.
The program had to adapt rapidly, setting up tents for quarantine, reducing shelter populations for distancing, and opening a hospital at the Boston Convention Center to accommodate COVID-19 patients.
Despite facing overwhelming challenges during the pandemic, the Health Care for the Homeless program managed to provide essential care and support to homeless individuals in Boston.

13:19

"Massachusetts shelters prioritize vaccination for homeless"

Massachusetts prioritized people living in congregate shelters for vaccination.
50% of shelter residents have received their first vaccine dose.
1,800 individuals, including staff and guests, have been vaccinated.
400 individuals have received their second vaccine dose.
Efforts are ongoing to ensure everyone receives their second dose.
Structural racism exacerbates disparities in homelessness, particularly affecting Black, Native American, and Latinx communities.
Black individuals represent over 40% of the homeless population despite being 13% of the general population.
The Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative focuses on translating evidence-based solutions into policies and practices.
Project Roomkey in California utilized hotel rooms to protect homeless individuals during the pandemic.
Built For Zero uses a public health approach to address homelessness, focusing on system failures rather than individual failures.

26:39

"Ending Homelessness: Data-driven, Sustainable Solutions"

Built For Zero utilizes techniques from disease eradication to address homelessness and related issues.
Communities are taught to define homelessness as a complex problem requiring a collective response.
The importance of having the right team focused on community-level outcomes is emphasized.
Data collection is crucial for ensuring racial equity in addressing homelessness.
Built For Zero communities collect real-time, individualized data to address homelessness dynamically.
The focus is on reducing homelessness sustainably, not just implementing programs.
Housing policies often do not align with the goal of ending homelessness.
Social impact capital is used to address gaps in housing supply.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for accurate data and organized community responses.
Academic initiatives like the Health and Homelessness Initiative at Harvard aim to address the lack of dedicated programs for homelessness.

40:56

"Health and Homelessness Course Launches Next Month"

First-ever course on health and homelessness to be launched at school next month, co-taught by Doctors Maggie Sullivan and Jill Roncarati
Pilot Spark grants initiated for graduate students and junior faculty
Goal to establish partnerships across the school, university, and country
Initiative viewed as a milestone for reaching out to fellow panelists
Invitation for partnerships from anyone interested
National spending of over $12 billion on a broken, reactive system highlighted
Emphasis on clear community-level goals to address homelessness effectively
Call for accountability and intention at the community level to end homelessness
Need to allocate resources effectively and organize communities for impactful change
Importance of reinvesting in housing infrastructure and providing resources to those in need to end homelessness

54:37

Addressing Mental Health Disparities in Housing Inequity

Mental health care lacks consideration for Black, brown, and native populations due to structural racism and bias.
Black and brown individuals face barriers in accessing mental health care not related to finances but due to a lack of culturally competent providers.
The broken mental health system affects individuals regardless of wealth, highlighting bias and disparity issues.
Homelessness and mental health are interconnected, with 20-25% of homeless individuals also experiencing serious mental illness.
Housing is crucial for effectively treating mental health issues, emphasizing the need for appropriate support.
Despite the broken mental health system, individuals with mental health disabilities can thrive with housing and proper support.
Equity impacts arise when prioritizing certain groups over those experiencing homelessness, especially in the context of vaccinations during COVID-19.
Communities are making progress in reducing homelessness, with a focus on health equity and coordinated efforts across sectors.
Conversations around racial justice and housing justice are essential for dismantling oppressive systems and achieving housing for all.

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