Perspective

Coronavirus Exposes the Inextricable Connection Between Housing and Health

Escalated efforts to get homeless and unsheltered people off the streets during coronavirus can serve us long after the crisis is over.
During the pandemic, many more people have been transferred from homeless shelters to hotels, like Douglas Pyle in Minneapolis.David Joles/Star Tribune via Getty Images

We have heard for too long that there is no true solution to homelessness, with excuse after excuse on why we just can’t do it. Well, guess what? During this pandemic — in many places — homelessness reforms that were long deemed implausible are happening, if only temporarily.

Over the last two months, cities have been showing just what it takes to expand capacity and safely house the homeless.