Meeting the Needs of People Experiencing Homelessness in the Time of COVID
There are very few positive words to describe 2020.
Far too many people this year have been filled with anxiety, stress, hunger, pain, hopelessness, and sorrow due to COVID-19. Data shows that along with physical health needs most people are aware of, that behavioral health needs have imploded during the pandemic as well: The Census Bureau surveyed 99,000 households and found that more than one-third of adults reported symptoms of depressive or anxiety disorder – triple the rate reported in 2019. Another survey found that 1 in 10 adults had considered suicide, more than double what was reported in 2019. The American Medical Association (AMA) further reports that more than 40 states have seen an increase in opioid related deaths since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Coupling the effects of this pandemic on people already experiencing the crisis of homelessness, service providers in our field are now faced with even more insurmountable challenges. There is no use trying to sugar coat that – but taking immediate steps, such as removing barriers to evidence-based treatment for those with a substance use disorder as well as for harm reduction services, can go a long way to mitigate some of that suffering, and bring hope back into the lives of the people we serve. As the CEO of Pathways to Housing PA, I am committed to making the changes needed to house and care for people during this troubling time.
