Homelessness centre staff scanned as rough sleepers so vulnerable
STAFF working at day centres for the homeless and emergency shelters are having their temperatures scanned as part of new measures to protect rough sleepers from coronavirus, writes Ryan O’Neill.
Welsh charities are trying to reduce the threat of infection for those on the streets, who are among the most vulnerable to infection.
Cardiff-based charity Huggard is among those introducing new measures, including scanning its workers’ temperatures using infrared non-contact forehead thermometers.
Those who are homeless or using Huggard’s services are being scanned only if they request it or complain of feeling ill.
Huggard is currently working with about 85 people a day at its intervention centre, and its emergency accommodation shelters support about 45 people each night.
“We are carefully following available advice on maintaining a hygienic environment to reduce the risks of transmission.
“We have stock of sanitising products and have significantly increased our cleaning regime,” the charity’s chief executive, Richard Edwards, said.
“All staff have been given strict instructions to maintain high levels of hygiene with our centre. We are also scanning staff temperatures when they come on shift to ensure that no-one is working while unwell.”
In a statement on social media, Huggard also said it would remain open 24/7 and that it was making sure that any surfaces and objects such as door handles, tables and keyboards were being regularly disinfected, as well as working with other frontline organisations like the council.
Many rough sleepers are at increased risk if they are physically weak or already have an underlying health condition.
Depending on their circumstances, some may also be unable to self-isolate if they develop symptoms.
According to statistics released last month by leading homeless charity The Wallich, the number of people sleeping on Wales’ streets has gone up by 17% year on year.
The figures showed Cardiff having the most rough sleepers over a two-week period, followed by Newport and Swansea.
A spokesman from The Wallich, which runs services all over Wales including Newport, Cardiff and Swansea, said it was aiming to make sure rough sleepers had all the necessary information they needed.
“The dangers of sleeping rough have grown with the threat of Covid-19. As a sector, The Wallich and other homelessness charities are acting vigilantly to make sure everyone has equality of access to information about the virus – whether that’s people in hostels or people on the streets.
“For those people currently sleeping rough, they may be more disconnected from the news and advice many of us are receiving, and our priority is to make sure everyone is safe.
“Our teams are encouraging the same amount of hand-washing amongst people on the streets as everyone else and providing hand sanitizer for those who don’t have access to soap and water.
“We would encourage all public washing facilities to make sure every citizen, including those who are homeless, is allowed their right to wash their hands and protect themselves from this virus.
“Homelessness can already be a very lonely and isolating experience – this could get worse. People should not be afraid to engage with people sleeping rough, be sensible but compassionate.”
Eden Gate, which runs homeless services in Newport, including a night shelter, said it was “ensuring service users had access to suitable hygiene and washing facilities at our premises on Hill Street and focusing our attention on guests and service users who are the most vulnerable.
“As a precautionary measure we have provided staff with hand sanitizer gels and a digital thermometer to check if guests are running a fever,” an Eden Gate statement said.
The charity said it had also implemented a ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ poster campaign to raise awareness.