How COVID-19 Affects Lansing Homeless Community

We were told to "stay home" but what about those who don't have a home to stay in? The Lansing State Journal reports on how one area in particular is coping.

Talking to individuals at an encampment of about seven tents around a campground for about twelve people, Lansing State Journal said, inevitably, a lot of the conversation was about the coronavirus.

For some, they were just hearing about other states' orders, while also trying to figure out how to navigate challenges in our own state with businesses being shut down and daily life being disrupted.

Not only do people not have the same ease of access to things like food and resources but even sinks to properly wash hands in are, unsurprisingly, hard to come by for homeless individuals.

Being told to limit contact with people you do not live with also puts further limits on access to resources.

Lansing-area shelters like Holy Cross Services and City Rescue mission are trying to help as best they can but are reminding people that to "come-and-go" as they please could pose risks of spreading the virus.

According to Kim Coleman, Lansing's director of Human Relations and Community Services, there are still beds available despite being nearly full amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The staff at these facilities are trying to monitor temperatures of those staying there as well as symptoms and even making sure beds are placed no less than the recommended six feet apart.