Shelter centers for the homeless are still open for the time being, but both Stevie and Keith prefer to sleep on the street than in the crowded dormitory. Keith says he is often robbed in shelters and that the dorms are unsanitary and full of lice.
Outside it is much cooler, says Stevie: “A shelter is a place where the virus accumulates and spreads and where it can mutate. Especially in a place where people are close together. I think the outside air is much safer.”
The fact that dormitories can become dangerous sources of contamination is also a matter of serious concern to Central Union Mission, the largest homeless shelter in Washington DC. Therefore, upon entering, the temperature of each homeless person is measured.
Attempts are also made to make homeless people sleep in a fixed bed as much as possible, rather than rotate as usual. In this way, the organization hopes to reduce the risk of infection.
New wave
As a result of measures to curtail the coronavirus, hundreds of thousands of Americans have lost their jobs, such as those who work in the hospitality industry. There is a great fear that the number of homeless people in the capital will increase even more as a result.
Keith also sees a new wave coming. “Many people here are one missed payment away from homelessness. That’s just the way it is.”
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