Coronavirus: Homeless Community Adverse Impact from Eviction & Lack of Safe Housing

The cycle of eviction for vulnerable renters and owners can be doubly cruel due to the economic and health dangers during the Coronavirus Pandemic, let alone the danger for those currently on the streets. Homeless youth, young adults and young families also face additional challenges and barriers due to their high mobility and increased exposure to abuse, neglect and predation. Certain state and local jurisdictions are stepping up to provide temporary stays of evictions, and some are stopping sweeps of encampments and providing housing to people experiencing homelessness, or sanitation for encampments, as public health measures. These are important in the short term, but what will be the long-term effects of temporarily halting evictions without considering future protections? How can legal advocates adequately address needs during a time when the health dangers to people experiencing homelessness have never been higher?