Worcester Officials Trying to Curb Coronavirus Among Homeless

WORCESTER, MA — As city officials continue to deal with the coronavirus pandemic across the community and Worcester’s two hospitals, they are also working to assist the city’s homeless community in an effort to protect the homeless from being added to the constantly growing list of confirmed cases. As City Manager Edward M. Augustus and other city leaders study how local shelters are coping with the pandemic and keeping people temporarily housed, Augustus said Wednesday the city is trying to develop a more comprehensive plan moving forward.

Cases workers are working with clients to established an individualized plan to assist those who need it in times when shelters are closed. Augustus wants to prevent those clients from going back into homelessness if possible.

Last year, a study completed by the River Oaks Treatment Center in Tampa, Fla, found that Worcester has the highest homeless population in New England and the fifth highest in the United States. At that time, Worcester had 1,830 homeless residents per 100,000 people. The city was the only community in New England to rank in the study’s Top 10 nationally.

“We try to get as many of these people to go from temporary shelter into long-term treatment or into permanent housing,” Augustus said.

In addition to needing homes, Augustus said that city leaders are frustrated that they cannot to more to help avoid the spread of coronavirus among the homeless. Because medical professionals are not yet able to offer testing to asymptomatic patients, how much assistance the city can currently provide is limited. In Boston, Augustus said the city offered universal testing to the homeless, resulting in about 200 case studies, and city leaders have discussed whether that is possible in Worcester.

“We’re going to continue to have those conversations and see if there are ways that we can better understand what’s going on as opposed to just waiting for someone to become symptomatic,” he said. “This is a particular vulnerable population…it’s a situation we need to continue to better understand what’s really going on with the homeless population.”

The city has programs in place, Augustus said, that provide first and last month rent along with security deposits, but he said the city needs housing units in which to place clients. Augustus said the city is seeking community assistance in locating vacant apartment or homes, saying the city currently has a “desperate need” for them. Those able to help are asked to contact the Worcester Department of Health and Human Services at (508) 799-8486.