45: Addressing Housing Challenges and Economic Insecurity During COVID-19

Economic insecurity has been on the rise in the U.S. as COVID-19 continues to spread across the country. Millions of Americans have filed for unemployment while others risk losing their income because of illness or businesses closing temporarily. The pandemic is also exacerbating the housing crisis with many facing evictions and foreclosures. There have been numerous efforts at the national and state level to address these issues.

This episode highlights ongoing efforts and provides consideration for health officials to not only limit the impact of the pandemic on the economic security and housing needs of Americans but also to rebuild systems that create a healthier, more equitable post-COVID-19 world. This podcast is the first in a series that challenges state/territorial health officials to “Bounce Forward” instead of simply bouncing back to the way things were before.

Guests:

• Karyl Thomas Rattay (MD, MS), Director, Delaware Division of Public Health
• Nan Roman, President and CEO, National Alliance to End Homelessness
• Denise Harlow, CEO, National Community Action Partnerships

Resources:

• Delaware Hones in on Medical-Legal Partnerships to Reduce Infant Mortality (National Institute for Children’s Health Quality)
• Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response (National Alliance to End Homelessness)
• Healthy Communities Delaware
• How States are Housing the Homeless During a Pandemic (ASTHO)
• State of Homelessness: 2020 Edition (National Alliance to End Homelessness)