Columbus House

COVID-19 Emergency Relief for Columbus House’s Veterans

According to the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH), the 2020 annual one-night count identified 2,904 people in Connecticut experiencing homelessness—sheltered or unsheltered—of which 196 homeless adults identified as veterans. The need for homeless services in Connecticut is great and is likely to increase as the pandemic worsens, supplemental unemployment benefits expire, and eviction moratoriums are lifted in 2021. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals experiencing homelessness are a unique at-risk population given their lack of permanent housing, access to medical services, and other necessities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report in June 2020 about the impact of COVID-19 on people experiencing homelessness, examining electronic health records of over 50,000 people experiencing homelessness, and confirmed that they have increased prevalence for most medical conditions associated with severe illness from COVID-19. This BWF grant, made possible with thanks to the Wells Fargo Foundation, will support COVID-19 Emergency Relief for Columbus House’s Veteran by providing emergency financial assistance to at least 50 veterans experiencing homelessness or at-rick of becoming homeless, to mitigate financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.