Homelessness within the COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Nova Scotian Communities

Abstract

Expanding the emergent literature on homelessness and the COVID-19 pandemic, this qualitative study presents a portrait of the homelessness sector in two Nova Scotian, Canadian communities: Halifax Regional Municipality and Cape Breton Regional Municipality. This research provides an understanding of the health and wellness of populations experiencing homelessness during the first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the processes involved in supporting populations experiencing homelessness during the pandemic, and determining what has worked, what has not, and required changes. The data will inform relevant emergency crises and disaster relief responses for those experiencing homelessness and those who are marginalized, vulnerable, and living on the fringes of society. What follows are the core themes, and lessons learned, along with recommendations that capture the narratives from a group of individuals experiencing homelessness throughout the pandemic and those tasked with developing, supporting, innovating, and funding the disaster responses in two Nova Scotian communities.

Desigualdades em saúde de adolescentes em situação de rua

“…O número de pessoas na rua aumentou em função da crise da pandemia de covid-19, como acontecido em Nova Escócia (Cape Breton), principalmente devido às questões econômicas, como o aumento do desemprego e da pobreza, fatores importantes para a explicação do ocorrido (25)(26)(27) .…”

Health inequalities among homeless adolescents

“…When asked about how long adolescents had been homeless, they reported periods of more than six months, in agreement with estimates of the homeless population in Brazil. The number of people who are homeless has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, as seen in Nova Scotia (Cape Breton), mainly due to economic issues, including increased unemployment and poverty (25)(26)(27) .…”

Desigualdades en salud de adolescentes en situación de calle

“…Con respecto al tiempo en la calle, se observó un período de más de seis meses, lo que confirma la estimación de la población en situación de calle en Brasil. El número de personas en la calle aumentó debido a la crisis de la pandemia de covid-19, como sucedió en Nueva Escocia (Cabo Bretón), principalmente por cuestiones económicas, como el aumento del desempleo y de la pobreza, factores importantes para la explicación de lo ocurrido (25)(26)(27) .…”