Written by: Bianca I
Edited by: Andrew A
It goes without saying that the COVID-19 coronavirus has affected all of our lives in more ways than one. When the pandemic started, many people were laid off from their jobs. According to The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “The unemployment rate jumped in April 2020 to a level not seen since the 1930s– and still stood at 6.2 percent in February 2021.”
Plenty of small businesses had to close down. Everything that happened in person was moved to a virtual setting. Poverty levels increased. We have all been busy thinking about how our own lives have changed because of the pandemic, but have you ever stopped to think about how the homeless was affected?
The Pandemic
Let me take you back to when everything started to shut down. People went crazy at the grocery stores and bought everything they could in preparation for the lockdown. All of the shelves were emptied. Y’all remember when there was no toilet paper anywhere, right?
Everyone stocked up on food and housing supplies, but what was the one thing that everyone definitely made sure to buy? Masks. The virus was spreading like wildfire, and we had to protect ourselves and our family members. Most of us were able to buy masks at a store or online.
However, homeless people did not have the money or resources to go out and buy masks as easily as the rest of us did. They also didn’t have access to hand sanitizer and running water and soap to keep themselves from getting the virus.
Shelter outbreaks led to many infections and forced people onto the streets as shelters restricted capacity. The amount of volunteers at shelters reduced because people needed to stay home to stop the virus from spreading. The homeless had no home or supplies to keep themselves afloat.
I remember it being very hard in the beginning of this pandemic to stay occupied while we were locked in our homes, but at least we were lucky enough to have homes to stay in.
What can YOU do about it?
Because most of us are in a position to help our underserved communities in one way or another, it is our responsibility to take action. We have all felt the effects of the pandemic in our lives, so let’s do what we can to help homeless people’s lives a little bit easier. We can educate ourselves, volunteer, and donate.
Here are a few resources in Austin, Texas that you can visit to learn more about volunteering opportunities:
Follow our SEU Combats Homelessness Campaign to learn more about the homelessness issue in Austin, Texas and ways you can help. Let’s all come together to tackle homelessness.
Follow us on social media!
Twitter: @seu_ch
Instagram: @seu.ch
Tags: Austin, Texas, Homeless, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Donate, Volunteer