The homeless community sees hardships worsen throughout the pandemic
By Morgan Trivitt
Over the past year and a half, virtually every business and public space has had to close its door due to the coronavirus pandemic. These closures have had devastating effects on many communities, but one group has been stripped of resources they relied on to survive.
As the pandemic has raged on, the homeless community has been hit the hardest. Social distancing guidelines and shelter in place orders have created even more displacement for the homeless.
The homeless community has seen the public spaces they relied on for basic necessities close their doors. Places like public restrooms and air conditioned buildings where the homeless could go to find relief from the elements have been unavailable to the homeless population since the beginning of the pandemic.
PCC has seen a decrease in homeless activity since the pandemic began largely due to the campus closures. PCC Detective Tyler Robins stated that many of the resources the homeless community relied on at PCC have been made unavailable.
“The transient community would typically come to PCC to bathe in the GM and W buildings or use restrooms throughout the campus or access the library; with the buildings being secured 24–7 this was no longer available to them,” stated Detective Robins.
Some relief from the hardships of the pandemic has been provided to the homeless community with Project Roomkey. This new program provides hotel rooms to those experiencing homelessness during the pandemic.
“Project Roomkey gives people who are experiencing homelessness and are recovering from COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19 a place to recuperate and properly quarantine outside of a hospital. It also provides a safe place for isolation for people who are experiencing homelessness and at high risk for medical complications should they become infected,” stated the Department of Social Services.
These services are much needed as the homeless population has increased since 2019 according to a report by The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“The report found that 580,466 people experienced homelessness in the United States on a single night in 2020, an increase of 12,751 people, or 2.2 percent, from 2019,” according to the 2020 annual homeless assessment report.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reports that the majority of the homeless population that have gotten the coronavirus have caught it in a homeless shelter, making finding housing options increasingly dangerous for the homeless.
“Since May of 2021 people experiencing homelessness have accounted for 7,133 coronavirus cases,” stated the department of public health’s summary report of COVID-19 in people experiencing homelessness.
PCC has made an effort to support those experiencing homelessness throughout the pandemic with many resources expanding during the past year such as Lancer Pantry. PCC’s lancer pantry provides food to those facing food insecurity and has expanded its services during the pandemic.
Throughout the pandemic, Lancer Pantry has had food distributions at multiple locations and has started providing grocery store gift cards for students to use while the on-campus food pantry is closed.
“Remote services provided by Lancer Pantry during the pandemic include one-time Grocery Outlet distributions, CalFresh application assistance, electronic grocery gift cards, and temporary off-campus food pantry services available at Knox Church,” stated Lancer Pantry services.
Beyond Lancer Pantry, PCC offers a number of services to students experiencing homelessness including housing resources and job opportunities which have continued to be provided during the pandemic. The PCC police department continues to work to support those experiencing homlessness in the Pasadena community.
“The PCC Police Department offers services in the way of shelter locations and information as well as assisting transients who are experiencing a dangerous mental health crisis by safely transporting them to area hospitals for evaluations,” stated PCC’s Detective Robins. “The PCC Police Department has a close relationship with the Pasadena Fire Department who have a wonderful outreach program where they bring social workers to the transients and assist them with housing, medical treatment, mental health diagnosis/treatment, and rehabilitation for addiction.”
As the Coronavirus pandemic seems to be coming to an end with vaccinations becoming more widely available the homeless community will experience many changes. As the programs that were being provided to them during the pandemic are ending they will have to begin relying on public spaces during their daily lives once again.
Detective Robins believes homeless activity will increase on campus once the school reopens and looks forward to continuing to support the homeless community as best he can.
“For me personally I can say that in my 12 years here at PCC I have developed a lot of great relationships and friendships with the local transient population. I look forward to seeing many of them, greeting them with a handshake or a hug, and I have wept for some who have passed away,” stated Detective Robins. “I try very hard to get people to accept help from others so they can live their best lives. Interacting with the area transients has been a highlight of my career here and I will continue to be here for them however I can.”
