COVID-19 is here. As I write this, New York City is besieged by cases of people sickened by the virus, and Philadelphia, recently designated a hot spot, is bracing for a potential onslaught. For many of us, this means hunkering down even more, often with loved ones, in the comfort and safety of our own homes. That is not an option for Homeless Advocacy Project’s (HAP) clients, who are more likely to suffer from underlying health conditions than the general population but whose access to supportive services is now more limited than ever. HAP’s current challenge is advocating for our clients in an overburdened environment where homeless service providers and city officials continue to work on the front lines of the epidemic.

For people experiencing homelessness, the threat of COVID-19 is particularly frightening. Whether sleeping outside or in shelter, conditions for eating, sleeping and socializing are cramped, even in the best of times. Shelter residents eat together, usually cafeteria style, and often sleep in rooms with multiple cots or bunk beds. For those who live outside, conditions can be just as tight, in overcrowded tents or under cardboard boxes, as they sleep and eat within feet or even inches of each other’s faces.

This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.

To view this content, please continue to their sites.

Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Why am I seeing this?

LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.

For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]