Braving Freezing Temperatures: A Report on the Unforgiving Winter Conditions
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New York City, one of the cities with the highest homeless population in the nation, is grappling with the challenges posed by snowstorms during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The first snowstorm on the East Coast has complicated the critical work of providing care to people experiencing homelessness.
City officials have taken measures to address the issue, adding 1,200 more beds, supporting emergency temporary housing (including in hotels), and developing outreach campaigns to reach more people experiencing street homelessness. Outreach teams will continue to engage unsheltered New Yorkers and encourage them to accept services, implementing best practices, latest health guidance, and Code Blue protocols.
However, extreme weather events like snowstorms severely impact the healthcare and safety of homeless individuals. During the winter, the threat on the East Coast becomes the snow, and staying dry is as important as staying warm for those experiencing homelessness.
Snowstorms increase the risks of hypothermia, exposure-related illnesses, and complicate access to emergency shelters and healthcare services. These conditions exacerbate vulnerabilities already heightened by the pandemic, such as limited access to healthcare, crowded shelters, and increased transmission risk.
In New York City, the only warming center operating during last week's storm had 15 chairs. During snowstorms, emergency cold weather shelters become critical for preventing cold-related illnesses and death. However, they may face capacity challenges during pandemics like COVID-19 due to social distancing requirements and infection control measures.
Homelessness makes people vulnerable to viral infections like the flu due to shelters and physical and sexual abuse. Combined with COVID-19, these risks multiply, especially when weather hampers access to medical care or outreach.
Affordable housing is a top priority for those experiencing homelessness, as many have jobs and children but still can't afford rent. Advocates are worried that the homelessness rate will spike soon after the moratorium ends.
Care for the Homeless, an organisation that had already built out a robust telemedicine network prior to the pandemic, had to shut down some of its 26 health centers due to the snowstorm. Not every patient has access to a phone or internet, which has become a significant challenge for Care for the Homeless.
Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to ensure the safety and well-being of homeless individuals. The man found dead on the street in Brooklyn was honoured during the annual Homeless Persons' Memorial Day held by Care for the Homeless.
References:
[1] National Coalition for the Homeless (2021). Homelessness and Extreme Weather. Retrieved from https://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/homelessness_and_extreme_weather/
[2] National Alliance to End Homelessness (2021). Homelessness and Cold Weather. Retrieved from https://endhomelessness.org/resource/homelessness-and-cold-weather/
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021). COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/eviction-moratorium/index.html
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