Coronavirus fears push more area homeless to the streets

Apr 13, 20200

Richard Tsong-Taatarii – Minneapolis Star Tribune count

Jennifer Hernandez peeks out of her tent at "Camp Quarantine" as it has become informally known. Minnesota state and local officials have scrambled to expand emergency shelter beds for people who are homeless, but they are facing resistance from the very people they are trying to help. That's because a large number of homeless people are steering clear of shelters because of the coronavirus.

Jennifer Hernandez hunched her shoulders against the biting wind and contemplated how she would find water to wash herself and her children.

She would probably walk six blocks to the nearest laundromat, fill a plastic jug and haul it in a shopping cart back to her tent. Later, with her back turned to the morning traffic, Hernandez would pour the water over her long dark hair.

https://www.startribune.com/coronavirus-fears-push-more-area-homeless-to-the-streets/569580842/