Elderly and those with chronic conditions will be housed until the pandemic subsides
Juan Nito Padilla and her husband Matthew Padilla were relieved when they were accommodated at a well-known hotel in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, allowing them to protect themselves from being infected by the coronavirus.
"We are more comfortable and calmer. At shelter where we were, we were always concerned about not touching surfaces; and as we were in a group, we felt more exposed to the virus"Explains Nito.
This same-sex couple married last February, before the coronavirus pandemic broke out. For nine months, they were in the first temporary homeless shelter, opened in 2018 by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
However, when the emergency was declared due to the health crisis caused by COVID-19, they were removed from the shelter and relocated to a hotel room, because Matthew has several serious health conditions, which makes him a viable candidate. to contract the pandemic.
At the hotel where they have been for two weeks, they are given all three meals, and they are allowed to go for a walk. "When we come back they take our temperature," says Nito.
For the protection of all
Amid the health contingency, Los Angeles County made an unprecedented effort to put 15,000 homeless like Nito and Matthew in hotel and motel rooms; protect them and prevent the spread of infection.
Best of all, this project does not take into account immigration status.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors launched a motion by supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Janice Hahn approving a plan to house vulnerable homeless until the pandemic subsides.
Supervisors along with the state project Roomkey and the Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), and other partners secured the hotel and motel rooms for those homeless people vulnerable to contracting the virus, especially the elderly or those with pre-existing health conditions.
Roomkey is a joint project between the state, the county and the city of Los Angeles to house some of the most vulnerable homeless in hotels and motels.
As of May 6, 1,800 rooms in 23 hotels and motels had been occupied. LAHSA's José Delgado said 25% of the homeless hosted are Latino. "Every day more hotels are added to the project."
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse hotels 75% of the cost for each room.
"The Roomkey project is a win on multiple fronts, as it protects the vulnerable and the elderly, preserving the public health of most of the community during the pandemic, while simultaneously providing income to hotel owners, ”says supervisor Ridley-Thomas.
He adds that the Roomkey project is a test of values and a collective commitment to provide a roof for everyone.
Those most at risk
The president of the Los Angeles Business Council (LABS), Mary Leslie, affirms that with almost 9% of the homeless population over 65 years old and aging, they must do everything possible to protect these individuals and families at risk.
Meanwhile, Sandy Hamilton, director of the Willowbrook Senior Center, notes that older adults have had to dip into their retirement savings to meet the high costs of housing, home, vehicle maintenance, family matters and medical needs.
"This public health crisis will send many elderly people into poverty and homelessness"
Nito Padilla had been living on the street for four months, when he was discovered by a social worker who invited him to go to the Casa Puente homeless shelter next to Placita Olvera in downtown Los Angeles.
"I said yes, but the only way to leave was for my partner – Matthew – to go live with me. They said it was fine. We come to watch and after three days, we come back to stay, ”he says.
Nito is 36 years old. He is the son of Mexican parents, born and raised in South Los Angeles.
She couldn't bear crying when she realized she would sleep indoors.
"I started crying when I saw that he had a bed and a pillow for me"He says reliving the moment.
Matthew Padilla, her husband, is 34 years old.
In constant vigilance
Heidi Marston, director of LAHSA, points out that the homeless people who are housed in hotels and motels come from hospitals, camps and shelters that need to reduce their population to meet social distance, such as the Casa Puente de La shelter. Placita Olvera, from which Nito and Matthew come.
"They are being continuously monitored to check that they do not develop the coronavirus," he says.
Dr. Silvia Prieto of the Department of Public Health says that before putting a homeless person in a motel room, they are tested for the coronavirus; and at least twice a day, they take their temperature.
“They are not allowed to congregate in common areas, they have to comply with social distance and wear face masks. If any of them show symptoms of the coronavirus, they are transferred to an appropriate room to receive greater care, and a deep disinfection is carried out. ”
He announces that there are 59,000 homeless people in the county.
