The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated numerous challenges for individuals in Detroit, particularly those who are experiencing homelessness. The residents of Detroit who are unsheltered or homeless are at a high risk of contracting COVID-19, making following Governor Whitmer's Stay-at-Home order even more essential. However, it is difficult to accomplish this when staying in a crowded shelter or forced to leave your outdoor camp.

Over the past few weeks, despite guidelines from the CDC recommending against homeless encampment removal during the pandemic unless there are “independent housing units available” and the stay-at-home order in place in Michigan, City officials and Detroit law enforcement officers have continued to displace residents of encampments without having adequate housing options available.  People’s belongings are being thrown into the garbage and they are being dispersed from their encampments to other locations throughout the city. When this happens contact may be lost with outreach teams that are providing education on and testing for COVID-19, as well as essentials such as hand sanitizer, food, water, clothing, and medications. This puts the health of our entire community at risk due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus. In order to protect the health of the Detroit community, including our most vulnerable members, we urgently call for the following:

1. That our City and the Detroit Police Department, in accordance with the national CDC recommendations, commit to refrain from displacing residents of homeless encampments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. That going forward, our City commit to following the CDC guidelines regarding appropriate care for those experiencing homelessness, during pandemics and otherwise.

3. That our City follow the precedent of cities like San Francisco and Chicago by continuing to expand housing resources such as hotels and dormitories to ensure those who are COVID-19 positive or who are medically vulnerable have a safe place to go.

4. That our City increase accessibility and transparency through the use of an online centralized communication source to link individuals with available community resources in a clear and timely manner. 

5. That our City support the physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing of residents experiencing homelessness and allow for meaningful engagement of these residents, through training law enforcement and city officials in Trauma-Informed Care. Further, we ask that briefings, trainings, policies, and protocols be built on the wisdom of those with lived experience of homelessness and the community partners who work alongside them.

To learn more about Street Medicine in Detroit visit: http://streetmedicinedetroit.org and https://www.detroitstreetcare.org