How Local Governments Are Caring for the Homeless During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This article discusses the plight of the homeless during public health emergencies and the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It reviews the role of public administrators that grounds their efforts by examining their foundational purpose to serve the most vulnerable in our society. Using subsidiarity principle as the context, it discusses homelessness in America and the role of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and their Continuum of Care program. It also highlights the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during public health emergencies and their interim guidelines for local governments in providing for the homeless during emergencies. Finally, through a case study on the city of Dallas, Texas, the article examines how local governments have responded to address the needs of the homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic. It concludes that it is imperative that public administrators at all levels of government explore areas of shared competence, cooperation, and allocate responsibility where it would yield the most efficient result.

Social Work during the COVID-19 Crisis: Responding to Urgent Social Needs

“…In the arena of homelessness, social work contributions are less common than the ones appearing in the field of health, in which social health workers have also a crucial task. Benavides and Nukpezah [34] discuss the role of public administrations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, showing the ways to address the needs of the homeless during the pandemic, demonstrating the relevance to cooperate and share responsibilities. In the European context, the local and regional authorities and organizations have developed several initiatives, including the immediate responses of social workers in the frontline.…”

The COVID-19 pandemic impact upon housing brokers’ workflow and their clients’ attitude: Real estate market in Krakow

“…in Ghana) due to the prevalence of homelessness and very poor housing conditions amongst the substantial part of the society. The aforementioned issue further considered within the framework of research conducted by Benavides and Nukpezah (2020), who note that in order for the needs of the homeless to be satisfied effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials must cooperate at all the levels of public institutions.…”

Self-reported impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic for people experiencing homelessness in Sacramento, California

“…Finally, this study's results have implications for future research and practice. Consistent with experiences in other cities, like Dallas (Benavides & Nukpezah, 2020) or San Diego (Marquez et al, 2020), proactive and widespread coronavirus testing and isolation may have been crucial for protecting people experiencing homelessness. These results also suggest that economic and housing supports for people experiencing homelessness should not treat the pandemic as a new set back, as it might be for many otherwise middle-income people.…”

“…Expanded public health responses by local governments, health care providers, and homelessness services organizations may have effectively prevented worst-case predictions in many places. Early and widespread coronavirus testing, isolating those testing positive for the virus, helped constrain coronavirus clusters in congregate shelters in cities like Dallas, San Diego, and Seattle (Benavides & Nukpezah, 2020;Marquez et al, 2020;Tobolowsky et al, 2020). Lower transmission rates for the coronavirus in outdoor spaces, like tent encampments, may have reduced risk for many people experiencing homelessness.…”