Peter Sulewski spent nearly four years roving through Baltimore’s homeless shelters, and saw the toll it takes on health — even without the added threat of COVID-19.
“I’ve seen people freeze to death out there,” says Sulewski, whose home burnt down six years ago. At the same time, he says, “I would hate to be in a shelter during a pandemic. You’re walking through doorways at the same time with people who share the same bathroom that, you know, nine or 10 other people might be using.”
People experiencing homelessness are especially vulnerable to disease and often live in close quarters; reaching them for COVID-19 vaccination is crucial, public health officials say, yet also presents some unique challenges. Addresses and phone numbers change constantly. Few of the people affected have reliable Internet access.
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