As worries about the spread of the coronavirus confine millions of Californians to their homes, concern is growing about those who have no homes in which to shelter.
California has more than 150,000 homeless people, the most in the nation, and there's concern that as the rest of the state's residents are being told to stay apart and to frequently wash their hands, the homeless are living just as they did before the outbreak.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said it's possible 60,000 could contract the virus. The governor announced he would spend $150 million on efforts to prevent the COVID-19 virus from sweeping through that population.
“I hope you get a sense of the seriousness we're taking the issue of homelessness,” Newsom said in a Facebook Live broadcast.
Two-thirds of the money will go directly to local governments to spend on homeless services and $50 million will be used by the state to purchase 1,300 travel trailers and lease hotel rooms for emergency housing.
The trailers will be used for homeless people requiring isolation after testing positive for the virus or who are showing symptoms. California also has identified 950 hotels that could lease rooms to local governments to house the homeless.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that the city, through the Red Cross, will provide 6,000 emergency beds at recreation centers, including 1,600 by week's end.
“Too many ... lack a basic necessity that will help most of us get through this crisis: a home,” Garcetti said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
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Stuart Malcolm, a doctor with the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, speaks with a homeless person about the coronavirus in the Haight Ashbury area of San Francisco on Tuesday, March 17, 2020........LaLa land never changes!
California has more than 150,000 homeless people, the most in the nation, and there's concern that as the rest of the state's residents are being told to stay apart and to frequently wash their hands, the homeless are living just as they did before the outbreak.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday said it's possible 60,000 could contract the virus. The governor announced he would spend $150 million on efforts to prevent the COVID-19 virus from sweeping through that population.
“I hope you get a sense of the seriousness we're taking the issue of homelessness,” Newsom said in a Facebook Live broadcast.
Two-thirds of the money will go directly to local governments to spend on homeless services and $50 million will be used by the state to purchase 1,300 travel trailers and lease hotel rooms for emergency housing.
The trailers will be used for homeless people requiring isolation after testing positive for the virus or who are showing symptoms. California also has identified 950 hotels that could lease rooms to local governments to house the homeless.
In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that the city, through the Red Cross, will provide 6,000 emergency beds at recreation centers, including 1,600 by week's end.
“Too many ... lack a basic necessity that will help most of us get through this crisis: a home,” Garcetti said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
------------
Stuart Malcolm, a doctor with the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, speaks with a homeless person about the coronavirus in the Haight Ashbury area of San Francisco on Tuesday, March 17, 2020........LaLa land never changes!
