Health and Social Care Inequalities: The Impact of COVID-19 on People Experiencing Homelessness in Brazil

Abstract

This article aims to reflect on the challenges affecting people experiencing homelessness in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, due the COVID-19 pandemic. Participatory research was carried out to identify data related to sociodemographic profile; strategies for survival; health and social care support; and access to services during the pandemic. The research methodology was co-designed with NGOs and people with lived experience of homelessness and involved conducting semi-structured questionnaires with 304 participants in 2020. The results highlighted the worsening of the situation of extreme vulnerability and poverty already experienced by this population before the pandemic. Key strategies led by Third Sector organizations to reduce the spread of the virus, to minimize the financial impact of lockdown, and to increase emotional support and information on COVID-19 were presented. The conclusions show the complexity of issues affecting these groups and the need for urgent response from public policies and Government support to guarantee their rights, dignity, and respect during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategies and action plans of the Berlin Senate

“…In Brazil and India, there are reports of forced displacement by authorities (Lewis, Ram, Sayed & Aditi, 2020, March 24;Nunes et al, 2021), these findings are consistent with a reported instance in Berlin by removing the largest homeless encampment. Perri et al (2020) have shown that legislative regulations in the context of COVID-19 often criminalize people experiencing homelessness in their daily lives, e.g.…”

“…Several studies emphasize the importance of emotional services in coping with the COVID-19 disease to address individuals experiencing homelessness (Perri et al, 2020;Banerjee & Bhattacharya, 2021;Nunes et al, 2021). As Dotson, Ciarocco andKoh (2020, p. 1006) stress, 'the mental health needs of people who are homeless during disasters have received minimal attention'.…”

“…In other countries, e. g. Brazil, the situation was highly problematic, not least because of the government. Help here came to a significant extent from non-governmental organizations and civil society (Nunes, Rodriguez & Cinacchi, 2021). However, many governmental and non-governmental initiatives in India provided shelter and food for people experiencing homelessness.…”

“…While some U.S. cities provided bag lunches and meals ready to eat, others deployed so-called Meal Hubs (Benavides & Nukpezah, 2020). Nunes et al (2021) stress the importance of civil society support and NGOs feeding people experiencing homelessness. Some other crucial emergency responses were occurring strategies regarding preventive care and treatment in the context of COVID-19.…”

“…Several studies have highlighted a higher need for emotional support among individuals experiencing homelessness during the pandemic (Banerjee & Bhattacharya, 2021;Nunes et al, 2021). The sudden closing of social and public facilities, and the severance of social relationships, can harm the mental health of individuals experiencing homelessness (Perri et al, 2020).…”