Situation for homeless people even more dire amidst COVID-19.

Toronto is the epicentre of the homeless emergency in Canada. So it is no surprise that the first case of COVID-19 in the homeless population occurred in Toronto's second class shelter system, known as the 24-hr respite centres. Toronto's municipal government has refused to acknowledge and act on this petition's plea to declare a state of emergency. This constitutes institutional neglect and puts homeless people and front-line workers at risk in this pandemic.

Here is the picture today and it is bringing tears to the eyes of many who are seeing it first hand.

• shelters remain overcrowded and under resourced;
• drop-ins have had to reduce their capacity, many have cancelled programs or reduced hours;
• access to bathrooms/hand-washing has been lost due to closure of libraries, community centres and restaurants;
• sit-down meals are pretty much eliminated due to social distancing and people now receive their meal at the door 'to go';
• a significant loss of social connection is leading to hunger, frustration, anger and depression for many;
• stores that insist on 'cash only' payments reduce purchasing options for people with plastic;
• a delay in setting up isolation and quarantine sites has resulted in confusion and frustration for all;
• front-line shelter workers are expected to implement a complicated screening protocol without health resources on site and without adequate personal protective equipment;
• to date, five additional temporary shelter sites have opened to enhance social distancing in the 24-hr respites and overnight drop-ins for women. However, unlike other jurisdictions the city has yet to use emergency powers to contract with or commandeer empty student residences, hotels or apartments for actual long-term housing to protect people from the virus.

Enhanced shelter and drop-in cleaning, symptom screening, social distancing can only go so far in a homelessness emergency. These measures began too late.

Now is the time for rescue. In a natural disaster people are re-housed. This is the time.