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

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health・50 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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