Resources + Information

This page will be regularly updated with articles, statistics, policies, and resources. Check back often!

Last updated 3/31/20

Relevant Articles

COVID-19 Articles
Opinion: Non-Infected Homeless Need More Beds, Too
Opinion: Non-Infected Homeless Need More Beds, Too

An open letter from Mark Colville of the Amistad Catholic Worker House to Mayor Elicker describing the need to shelter non-infected homeless individuals. Read the letter on the New Haven Independent’s site here.

Coronavirus Threatens to Overwhelm Cities’ Social Safety Net
Coronavirus Threatens to Overwhelm Cities’ Social Safety Net

An article from the Wall Street Journal describing increased demand at soup kitchens, food banks, and crisis hotlines. Read the article here.

New Haven coronavirus plan for homeless draws criticism and praise
New Haven coronavirus plan for homeless draws criticism and praise

A summary of responses to the city’s plan for the homeless from the New Haven Register. Read the article here.

Cambridge To Pay Restaurants To Make Meals For Homeless People
Cambridge To Pay Restaurants To Make Meals For Homeless People

An article from WBUR describing a plan to support both restaurants and the homeless in Cambridge. Read the article here.

Cities struggle to protect vulnerable homeless populations as coronavirus spreads
Cities struggle to protect vulnerable homeless populations as coronavirus spreads

An overview of the challenges faced by the homeless during this time and some efforts to address them. Read the article from The Washington Post here.

America’s inequitable housing system is completely unprepared for coronavirus
America’s inequitable housing system is completely unprepared for coronavirus

An article from the Brookings Institute describing how the homeless and other housing-insecure individuals are uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19. Read the article here.

Coronavirus Poses Unique Threat to U.S. Homeless Population
Coronavirus Poses Unique Threat to U.S. Homeless Population

An article from the Scientific American describing the unique challenges the homeless population faces in addressing COVID-19. Read it here.

 

Policy Response

Policy suggestions + advocacy opportunities

Policy Suggestions from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council:

  1. Identify appropriate isolation/quarantine venues

  2. Prevent loss of housing & health care services

  3. Expand shelter capacity & deliver services to unsheltered populations

  4. Ensure providers have supplies & protective equipment

  5. Expand medical respite care programs

Read more about these policies here.

Join the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Disaster Recovery Housing Coalition.

  • The group holds webinars on housing and homelessness resources in the COVID-19 stimulus package every Monday at 2:30 pm EST. Register and view past webinars at the link above.

  • Their in-depth congressional recommendations address the urgent needs of both homeless and low-income Americans as well as long-term solutions. Read them here.

relevant federal policies + actions

  • CARES Act ($2 trillion Stimulus Package, signed on 3/27)

    • Key components of the package:

      • Stimulus checks:

        • Most adults will get a $1,200 check, receiving an additional $500 for each dependent aged 16 or under.

        • Checks are based on income as reported on 2019 tax returns (or 2018 if you haven’t filed yet). Adults earning $75,000 or less will get the full amount.

        • Calculate your estimated check using this tool from the Washington Post.

      • Increased unemployment benefits:

        • Jobless insurance was extended by 13 weeks.

        • Benefits were enhanced for four months.

        • Self-employed workers, including gig workers, freelancers, and independent contractors, are newly eligible for unemployment.

      • Small business emergency loans

      • Government loans for larger companies (with restrictions)

      • Aid for hospitals

    • Read an in-depth FAQ from the New York Times here.

  • Families First Coronavirus Response Act (signed into law on 3/18/20)

    • Includes paid sick leave, insurance coverage of coronavirus testing, nutrition assistance, and unemployment benefits.

    • Provisions especially relevant to hunger and homelessness:

      • Additional funding for WIC, TEFAP, and SNAP (food assistance programs)

      • Ensuring children are fed through the Maintaining Essential Access to Lunch For Students (MEALS) Act, COVID-19 Child Nutrition Response Act, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Waivers.

      • Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare now fully cover COVID-19 testing.

    • Get a detailed summary of the Act from the Kaiser Family Foundation and read the entire Act here.

  • Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (signed into law on 3/6/20)

    • Allocates $6.7 billion for the domestic response (focused on prevention) and $1.6 billion for international efforts.

    • Get a detailed summary from the Kaiser Family Foundation and read the entire Act here.

relevant State policies + actions

See overview at https://nlihc.org/coronavirus-and-housing-homelessness.

 

More Resources

  • The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness’s page on COVID-19 has a plethora of best practices along with examples of how communities are addressing the crisis.

  • Subscribe to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council’s weekly email, which has updates on the status of COVID-19 and the homeless population. View a recent newsletter here.

  • The CDC released guidelines for homeless service providers.

  • The Kaiser Family Foundation’s coronavirus articles.