Omicron tore through an Arlington County homeless shelter. To contain it, they moved everyone into a motel.
“Since the start of the pandemic, providers of homelessness services have struggled to walk a line between continuing to care for clients with a wide range of needs — physical or mental illness, substance abuse, unemployment and others — and keeping people safe in congregate settings where social distancing is nearly impossible and infectious diseases can spread swiftly […]
Several clients were hesitant, even scared, staff members said.
For many, especially those who struggle with mental illness and related conditions, officials said, routine is essential. Moving away from the homeless services center would be a huge disruption.
‘We’re doing something we’ve never done before — never even fathomed before, and we’re asking our clients to do something extremely difficult as well,’ said Terrance Toussaint, the senior director of the PathForward homeless services center program. ‘It’s not like we’re moving shoes; we’re moving human beings with needs and feelings and triggers.'”