Statement from the National HCH Council: Dangerous Opportunity

It has often been pointed out that the Chinese word for “crisis” is composed of two characters. The first means “danger” and the second is “opportunity.” Thousands of years ago, their culture contained the wisdom that with every crisis, there is also opportunity. In March 2020, “COVID-19” is virtually synonymous with danger as people in this country and around the world are warned to stay at home, stand at least six feet apart, go into quarantine for fourteen days, be aware of the risk factors for the elderly, practice self-care in response to trauma, and the #1 recommendation of the CDC: wash your hands thoroughly and often. But the HCH community sees the national and international efforts to rid the world of the deadly novel coronavirus with the realization that:

• You can’t easily self-quarantine for two weeks while living in shelter or an encampment.
• You can’t wash your hands frequently without access to running water.
• You can’t easily engage in self-care when experiencing trauma is a daily fact of life while experiencing homelessness.

We know that people experiencing homelessness are at higher risk of developing COVID-19 because of weakened immune systems caused by the chronic stress of homelessness, inadequate nutrition, sleep deprivation, and uncertain personal safety, at best.

It is true that the COVID-19 crisis brings with it very real dangers, especially for those living in shelters or encampments.  Yet it is also true that this crisis brings the opportunity for worldwide attention and the possibility of actually solving the problems to which we have dedicated our professional lives. The COVID-19 crisis has opened the door for the Council to speak directly with federal, state and local policymakers and to urge that communities respond to the pandemic in a constructive and proactive manner through these actions:

• Identify appropriate isolation and quarantine venues.
• Place a moratorium on encampment sweeps
• Prevent loss of housing and health care services.
• Expand shelter capacity and deliver services to unsheltered populations.
• Expand medical respite programs.

We are pleased that some of these recommendations are incorporated in guidance issued by HUD and the CDC. These recommendations reflect our mission statement: Grounded in human rights and social justice, the NHCHC mission is to build an equitable, high-quality health care system through training, research, and advocacy in the movement to end homelessness.

The COVID-19 crisis has brought into stark relief the systemic failure in the United States to provide the basic human rights of health care and safe housing to all its people.  The core truth is this:  human beings in our rural and urban communities are living in conditions found in Third World shanty towns — in the richest nation on earth.  These steps that several communities are now taking to address COVID-19 should be made permanent to prevent future crises by recognizing health care and housing as human rights.