At least 10 homeless have been victims of the coronavirus in LA County; authorities announce more support.
While the state of California advised all its inhabitants not to leave home this week to avoid the increase in infections, the homeless faced the reality of not having a home to take refuge.
On Tuesday afternoon during the daily announcement of coronavirus cases COVID-19, the director of the public health department, Barbara Ferrer announced 570 new cases of coronavirus in Los Angeles County. Ten cases were of homeless people.
"One case is under investigation by an (infected) person who may have resided in one of the city's shelters," said Ferrer.
A report released in late March revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic could possibly kill more than 3,400 homeless people in the United States.
In California, those numbers could reach as many as 1,200 deaths, including 400 in Los Angeles County, according to researchers at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Boston University and the University of Pennsylvania.
There are an estimated 58,000 homeless people in Los Angeles County. Of this total, more than 47% were of Latino origin.
In California
The state has increased efforts to provide a temporary shelter for homeless people and thus keep them away from infections.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday that the number of hotel rooms for homeless people would increase. The reaction was so swift that three days later, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authorities (LASHA) were already announcing it: 356 extra beds in county hotels and motels.
This is part of the “Project Roomkey” program, which plans to get 15,000 beds over the next few days, with the effort of Los Angeles County, the state government, FEMA, the Los Angeles Fire Department and service providers. The goal is to protect high-risk, symptomatic people who experience homelessness.
"As COVID-19 continues to spread across the country, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to do our part," said County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who invited hotels and motels to participate.
"Project Roomkey will ensure that people receive comprehensive services such as security, food, mental health and medical services during the public health crisis," stressed the supervisor.
Through this project, state and local governments will receive up to 75% FEMA cost-sharing reimbursement for hotel and motel rooms.
LA City
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced last week that nine YMCA centers will also support the homeless.
"The Board of Public Works approved the historic association with the YMCA where nine locations will be available for people who want to take a shower, use the toilets, for people who live on the streets, but need to have the same cleanliness as those who are in our homes, ”said Garcetti on Friday.
Brentwood area veterans will also receive a bed through the new Bridge Home, a partnership between the city and Los Angeles County, which will offer 50 beds for homeless veterans who do not show symptoms of the coronavirus.
The shelter was originally designed to install 100 beds, but was downsized to help veterans meet social distancing guidelines, according to Alderman Mike Bonin's office.
Measures intensify
In an effort to protect the homeless, Andy Bales, president and CEO of the Union Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter in the Skid Row area, said they are taking drastic measures to prevent an outbreak in the mission.
Bales said senior employees have been temporarily laid off. Everyone who enters the mission, employees and residents, must obey orders to wash their hands every half hour at least and keep their six-foot distance from each other.
"We added sink stations on each floor, we offered masks and we are cleaning everything … the ladies who live here have offered their help," said Bales.
The CEO indicated that since the contagions began, an increase has increased to the almost one thousand people who were already serving. Many of these individuals – between 150 and 200 – are the ones who previously refused to enter the refuge.
"We see that all people are experiencing stress and fear more than ever," said Bales. “Only from fear have people come to think that they have the symptoms of the coronavirus. Once we were about to send a resident to the hospital because we thought he was infected, but it was not. ”
Despite the fact that no case of an infected resident has been reported in the shelter, this Wednesday there was a loss of an employee.
"It was a partner who drove one of the trucks," Bales said. "We thought he had caught it outside the shelter because we tested his colleagues and they all came back negative."
Unfortunately, the young man, whose name was not revealed, was in intensive care and died yesterday morning.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced last week that nine YMCA centers will also support the homeless.
"The Board of Public Works approved the historic association with the YMCA where nine locations will be available for people who want to take a shower, use the bathrooms, for people who live on the streets, but need to have the same cleanliness as those who are in our homes, ”said Garcetti on Friday.
Brentwood area veterans will also receive a bed through the new Bridge Home, a partnership between the city and Los Angeles County, which will offer 50 beds for homeless veterans who do not show symptoms of the coronavirus.
The shelter was originally designed to install 100 beds, but was downsized to help veterans meet social distancing guidelines, according to Alderman Mike Bonin's office.
