From self-isolation to hand-washing, many of the safety measures recommended for protecting yourself and others from the coronavirus are not possible for homeless, marginalized, or vulnerable populations.

As Vancouver city councillor Jean Swanson explained in a commentary on April 4 that individuals living in single-room occupancy hotels share washrooms and lack kitchens while those in shelters share spaces with dozens of other people.

Meanwhile, Homeless in Vancouver blogger Stanley Q. Woodvine pointed out that homeless people face difficulties in finding places to wash their hands or finding washrooms due to the closure of libraries, community centres, and restaurants.

Read more