In these difficult times, it’s important to take into consideration the exacerbating and disproportionate impact COVID-19 has specifically on marginalized populations. Adherence to public health guidelines has caused many community support programs and soup kitchens—which provide basic necessities for the homeless to close. Shelter have become overcrowded, and are experiencing a shortage of resources and staff. People on the street can’t even panhandle because everyone has been instructed to stay in their homes. .
Oxford University researchers found that individuals making <$20k a year were 2x as likely to lose their job during the pandemic compared to those making more than $80k. Apart from insecure work, people struggling with homelessness already have an increased propensity to develop serious medical conditions; therefore, it is not surprising that COVID-19 is disproportionately ravaging our underprivileged communities. Awareness of these disparities are important in shaping our perspective of the situation at hand and allowing us to mobilize help to where it’s needed most. .
