Across Chicago, individuals experiencing homelessness have faced an uphill battle in the time of COVID-19. With little to no access to healthcare, PPE, or the tools needed to access vital resources, our neighbors living on the streets have faced heightened isolation during this pandemic. This problem has only continued to worsen, after a series of attacks on homeless encampments and individuals left many without shelter and at least one dead.
In response to these hate crimes, the Heartland Alliance Health (HAH) outreach team joined the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and several other institutions for a candlelight vigil to pay respects to Aaron Curry and the tent encampment residents that lost their homes to such senseless violence. For 30 years, this team has brought healthcare and resources directly to Chicago’s homeless populations. Today, they continue to work at these encampments, at homeless shelters, under viaducts, and on Lower Wacker drive — providing COVID-19 testing, PPE, food, benefits assistance, and connections to housing and healthcare.
The one true takeaway from that vigil was this: housing is a human right. The only true solution to ending these crimes against vulnerable populations is the same as the solution to our homelessness crisis – permanent supportive housing solutions. Hear more from our own experts on the HAH outreach team to better understand what they see every day in the time of COVID-19 and why it’s so important to build a #HousingForAll solution.
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