Homeless support during covid-19

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How do you wash your hands when you don't have access to soap and water? How do you shelter-in-place without shelter?  To survive, many people who are experiencing homelessness must resort to eating food that others have tossed aside (possibly contaminated) and with hands covered with germs and disease. Further, most of these people live in close proximity to one another so if one person becomes infected, the virus can quickly spread throughout encampments. This demographic is already high-risk and an outbreak will undoubtedly further overwhelm an already taxed healthcare system.

Humanitarian Action Network partnered with Sacramento Steps Forward to make addressing these concerns a priority, and immediately begin providing tents, camp toilets, personal sanitation supplies, water and non-perishable food, first-aid supplies, and more to people experiencing homelessness at an encampment of 30 people in South Sacramento. The project lasted for six weeks, and our goal was to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by providing a weekly drop-off of supplies to each person's tent, to allow these individuals to self-isolate and protect themselves and those around them. 

The project is now complete but we continue to visit the encampment three times a week to offer food and supplies. We have also been providing food, water, first-aid and personal hygiene supplies, as well as porta potties to an encampment in North Sacramento. Food and supplies to both of these encampments will be ongoing as supplies and volunteers allow. Please see below for ways you can help.