They aren’t washing their hands right now.
They aren’t social distancing.
They aren’t inside homes.
no, I’m not talking about the spring breakers in Miami Florida.
I’m talking about our homeless population.
With the outbreak of COVID-19, thousands of Toronto’s homeless individuals have lost their support structures. Many shelters, food banks, drop-in sites have closed. Those that are open, in order to maintain social distancing, can only let in so many individuals.
These individuals have no choice but to ignore the “wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds” message as the restaurants or coffee shops they habitually went to for bathroom use have now closed.
Under risks of COVID-19 on the Government of Canada website reads:
There is an increased risk of more severe outcomes for Canadians:
- aged 65 and over
- with compromised immune systems
- with underlying medical conditions
The homeless population is high risk of COVID-19. 29% of our homeless population is 51 or older (City of Toronto), and many homeless individuals have underlying medical conditions and compromised immune systems.
Climatic conditions, psychological strain and exposure to communicable disease create and lead to a range of chronic and acute health problems, including injury from cold, tuberculosis, skin diseases, cardio-respiratory disease, nutritional deficiencies, sleep deprivation, musculoskeletal pain and dental trouble.
https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/topics/health
The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty held a news conference in front of the community centre on Shuter Street on March 23rd speaking about these issues. Greg Cook, an outreach worker spoke at this conference asking “This community centre here sits empty. Why? At any time everyone, everyone should have at least a room. Especially now with COVID-19.” (05:15-05:26) He urged John Tory to act immediately, to open up the empty hotel rooms, dorm rooms, kitchens that could feed thousands, the community centres, to allow homeless individuals eat food to service, and to stay inside so they can at least have the chance to follow the necessary measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
These people are being neglected during times of crisis. Family physician Rikita Goel explained she is terrified for her patients. Many of her homeless patients, those in poverty, those dealing with mental illness have told her they feel that society doesn’t feel care about them (07:42-08:00). We have neglected those who need the most help. The people who are at highest risk are receiving the least amount of care and if they experience symptoms, they are unable to self-isolate. She also stated that “the people who have been forgotten by our society now matter because their health affects our health”(09:42-09:49)
This is result of having not effectively dealt with the problem of homelessness. This outbreak is illuminating the structural failings that have been a long.
However right now is not a time to be caught up in what could have been done earlier, but it is a time for all three levels of government to act rapidly.
Good news is that the City has been working over the past week to come up with solutions. So far systems have been implemented in the shelters that are open, to maintain social distancing instructions are being given to volunteers and workers on how to serve food and work in the kitchen. Further, the city has been able to open up 9 facilities in the past week for homeless individuals to stay. Click here for more information on measures being taken.
What’s it like inside those facilities? Is it safe? Is social distance being maintained? We can only hope so.
9 facilities. Still not enough to house the over 9,200 homeless people in toronto.
Though efforts are being made we must continue to urge the three levels of government to do more. We need to drastically increase the support. There are thousands of people needing a place to stay, food to eat, and water to both drink and wash their hands with.
Otherwise, we are creating a “virus death trap” as Gaetan Heroux with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty says.
Works Cited:
https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/topics/health
Facts about Homelessness in Toronto
https://globalnews.ca/news/6734648/toronto-homeless-covid-19-coronavirus-support/
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