Just being homeless puts you at greater risk for getting and spreading COVID-19. And several homeless residents have tested positive for the disease around the Mountain West, from Denver to Las Vegas. Thats forcing community leaders and shelter owners to take precautions.
Jodi Peterson-Stigers, executive director of the Boise shelter Interfaith Sanctuary, said officials there are now stopping by shelters with mobile testing units to test those with symptoms, which may give some residents peace of mind.
When you have no home, and you know that the best way to not get sick is to self-contain, thats a lot of pressure, Peterson-Stigers said. Youve got to figure it out in your own way. And so were trying to give them all the resources to be able to do that.
She said Boise has been lucky so far. One hotel has to house the most vulnerable residents.
Several cities in the Mountain West have already seen positive cases, and theres a growing acknowledgement that this could grow into a bigger problem as the outbreak spreads.
Las Vegas an emergency outdoor shelter in a parking lot. That happened after a homeless person tested positive for COVID-19, prompting a shelter to temporarily close its doors.
We are focused on public safety, keeping everyone safe, giving them a safe place to be and giving them a safe place where they can social distance, as is the requirements that have been passed down to everybody, said Jace Radke, a spokesperson for the city.
In Denver, two homeless people who have tested positive, which has advocates anticipating a surge in cases.
Two positive cases means we probably have more coming, Cathy Alderman, vice president of communications and public policy at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, The Colorado Sun.
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