This pandemic has affected every member of our community in different ways. We have worked hard to keep our state safe. And yet, the most vulnerable among us are still the most at risk. Our neighbors without stable housing are much more likely to catch Covid-19 as well as to experience more severe cases and even die from it.
With winter quickly approaching, we must find ways to shelter more of our community members experiencing homelessness. While we do have shelters, there are not nearly enough beds nor enough space for folks to safely sleep there while following social distancing protocols. With the continued economic recession and the upward trend of the virus, there is an almost certain shutdown in our future resulting in further job loss. And without rent freezes, more community members are at risk of losing their housing, thus creating further need for shelters with safe beds.
I call on our community to come together to find a solution. Continued use and expansion of the voucher program for hotels as well as using motels, empty apartment units, empty college housing, and other empty spaces is a possible start. We will no doubt have to get creative, but this is something we must do.
It is clear that we need solutions and to prioritize this public health issue in our community. Housing-first models work. And housing should be a human right.
Danielle Schiestle
Burlington
