More than 1,000 organizers, advocates, reporters, and legislative staff attended the weekly “Coronavirus, Housing, and Homelessness” national call hosted by NLIHC and our Disaster Recovery Housing Coalition (DHRC) on May 4. The call featured updates from national, state, and local advocates and service providers working to assist people experiencing homelessness, low-income households, and members of marginalized communities, all of whom are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Register for today’s (May 11) 2:30 pm ET call at: https://tinyurl.com/ru73qan
On the May 4 call, Representative David Price (D-NC) spoke about the pressing needs of homeless and housing-insecure individuals during the pandemic and his work as the chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development to secure funding through a relief package and the FY21 appropriations process. Nan Roman, president and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), spoke about a new framework for COVID-19 homelessness response to help providers and advocates understand how to leverage funding to address immediate needs while planning for recovery.
Joseph Geleta of the New Jersey Department of Human Services discussed using FEMA resources to fund non-congregate shelter, which is also discussed in a new NLIHC resource that includes New Jersey as a case study. Chandra Crawford, program and policy analyst at NAEH, discussed how existing racial inequities and structural racism have resulted in the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Black communities. She encouraged organizations and government agencies to gather and analyze data to understand disparities and adjust responses accordingly. Solomon Greene, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, provided a preview of new research on state and local rental assistance in response to COVID-19.
The call also included field updates from Ariadna Godreau-Aubert of Ayuda Legal in Puerto Rico, where communities are responding to the coronavirus while still recovering from devastating hurricanes and earthquakes. Joan Serviss of the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness and Pinky Clifford of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Partnership for Housing in South Dakota highlighted the specific vulnerabilities of Native Americans living on reservations, which, due to systemic discrimination and chronic underfunding, often lack critical health, housing, and food infrastructure.
NLIHC will host national calls on the Coronavirus, Housing, and Homelessness every week on Mondays at 2:30 pm ET. Register for today’s (May 11) call at: https://tinyurl.com/ru73qan
Watch a recording of the May 4 call at: tinyurl.com/y8dnctzp
View May 4 presentation slides at: tinyurl.com/ybhrkmzd
Stay up to date on COVID news and housing resources at: https://bit.ly/3dwCSEm