Homeless people are among the most at-risk populations for coronavirus. Regardless of their age or state of health, someone who’s homeless doesn’t have anywhere to isolate. Shelters are a place where the virus can spread quickly, and if they do find somewhere safe, they may not have access to healthcare or monitoring.
Fortunately, Miami-Dade Homeless Trust and the Rotary Club of Miami have found a solution. Homeless people who test positive for COVID-19 are placed in isolation in hotel rooms, where they’re provided with food and cell phones.
Student volunteers from Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine have offered to help monitor these patients’ conditions. The team of 40 students and 6 faculty members calls each isolated patient once a day to check their symptoms.
But the calls have become much more. For many of the patients in isolation, they’re a sign of hope and connection -- the only human contact they might have during this time.
Read on to learn more about helping Miami’s homeless population during coronavirus, and one man’s moving story.
Image source
Contact Our Writer – Alysa Salzberg
