Homelessness was an emergency. 313 doctors and nurses speak out.

Yesterday 313 physicians and nurse practitioners released a letter to:

Mayor John Tory, City of Toronto

Dr. Eileen De Villa, Medical Officer of Health, Toronto

Joe Cressy, Chair, Board of Health, Toronto

Mary-Anne Bedard, General Manager of Shelter of Support & Housing Administration, Toronto

Doug Ford, Premier, Ontario

Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Ontario

Tess Romain, Toronto Central LHIN, Ontario Health-Toronto

Rose Cook, Director, Clinical Portfolio at Ontario Health

"We are over 300 physicians and nurse practitioners working in Toronto. We work in acute care hospitals and in community settings including clinics, boarding homes, and in shelters and respites. Many of us work directly with people experiencing homelessness and precarious housing. We are seeing first hand the extreme toll that COVID-19 is taking on people who are the most marginalized. Our clients are no longer able to access many of the services they require for survival, including libraries, drop-ins, some food banks, and day programs. Conditions in Toronto’s shelters, boarding homes, 24-hour drop-ins and respite centres do not allow for physical distancing, putting both clients and staff at high risk for COVID-19. Moreover, people experiencing homelessness are at much higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease due to baseline higher rates of chronic medical conditions. Unless there is ongoing rapid action, we will see preventable deaths and outbreaks with broad public health implications during this pandemic."

They went on to make specific recommendations for enhanced testing, physical distancing in shelters and increased access to hotel rooms and housing.

Watch Dr. Andrew Boozary describe the historic inequities that are putting homeless people at risk.