Homelessness: ‘A lot of people are on the edge’ amid virus
As the coronavirus pandemic wears on, local service providers say vulnerable populations are continually strained and people who have been out of work since March are finding themselves closer to homelessness than ever.
Bryan Hall, executive director of the Eureka Rescue Mission, said on Dec. 30 that he hasn’t seen an increase in the Eureka homeless population since the beginning of the pandemic.
“As far as extra homeless people at the Mission, there hasn’t been an increase,” Hall said. “I know that there are several places in town, especially during the wintertime, that offer temporary housing.”
Hall credited UPLIFT Eureka for helping to house people, along with other local organizations like the Betty Kwan Chinn Foundation.
“However, I can’t help but look ahead,” Hall said. “Right now what I see, not only in our state but across our country, is the shutting down of the economy. So, what I see happening is a terrible influx of people that could end up homeless and living in their cars, that were at one time a business owner, simply because they have been mandated to either shut down or limited so much that they can’t survive.”
Hall pointed out that many people are a single paycheck away from being homeless.
“People can’t pay rent they can’t pay their mortgage the local authorities come and lock the door and kick you out and then what do you have? You’re homeless,” Hall said.
Project Roomkey, a program established as a part of the state’s response to the pandemic in March 2020, works with California counties to provide shelter options for people experiencing homelessness. The program also provides people who have been exposed to or are recovering from COVID-19 a place to properly quarantine and recuperate outside of a hospital, according to the California Department of Social Services.
“Through Project Room
key, we secured more than 70 rooms at three motels throughout the county,” said Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Christine Messinger. “( We) have provided and continue to provide shelter to at least 50 people per night who are experiencing homelessness, are at high risk of complications from COVID-19 and would otherwise be on the streets or in a hospital or a congregate facility where
they could not isolate.”
Messinger said a definitive count of people are currently experiencing homelessness in Humboldt County was unavailable, as the best mechanism for counting people experiencing homelessness is the Point-in-time count, last held in 2019 and next slated for 2023.
More than 1,470 unsheltered people were counted in Humboldt County during the Jan. 23 count. Local
philanthropist Betty Kwan Chinn, widely known for her work in providing Humboldt County’s homeless residents with shelter and resources, said homelessness has increased since then.
“I think it’s getting worse, there are more people out on the street,” she said. “A lot of people are on the edge.”
Nearly 75% of the people she encounters on the street are from out of the area, she said.
Chinn is required to follow strict guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in her shelters. Anyone coming in must quarantine for two weeks, she said.
“There are many people who don’t want to quarantine, they just cannot handle it. They would rather be outside,” Chinn said.
Last Sunday night, Chinn said she went out to help a group of people with a damaged tent. After helping the group, she was too tired to go home and decided to stay in a tent herself.
“It was almost one o’clock in the morning. I slept in the tent will my down jacket, my socks and shoes and a sleeping bag. I felt so cold. It was wet and when I woke up the next morning there was ice by my spot,” Chinn said. “I wanted to feel how they feel and it really made me want to cry. I am so grateful and so lucky to have someplace to take a shower and change my clothes.”
Hall agreed that he has seen more people camping on the sidewalks this year.
“I’ve seen people out where you didn’t used to see them,” Hall said.