Donate A Tent To Flatten the Curve
www.miamistreetmedicine.org
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For people sleeping rough on the streets, the message "stay at home" lands differently. The COVID-19 crisis puts those without a place to isolate at a significantly increased risk of both catching the illness themselves, and spreading the illness to tens, or hundreds, of others. People experiencing homelessness often have little choice but to utilize public spaces and keep in close proximity with each other for safety, shelter, and community. The need for tents and food within the homeless community has never been greater. Please consider donating so we can distribute these essential items, which will help flatten the curve for all of us.
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Covid-19 has exacerbated homeless shelter overcrowding. In these shelters, there are usually no dividers between beds and the lines to get in are crowded and long. This makes preventing the spread of Covid-19 among the unsheltered homeless extremely difficult. For the sheltered and unsheltered alike, this means amplified transmission of disease and a greater burden on our healthcare providers. Flattening the curve requires that we all physically distance ourselves, but for rough sleepers, physical distancing is nearly impossible.
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Many food banks, public bathrooms, and sanitary spaces are closed or have dwindling supplies. These changes mean that the homeless community have even fewer places to get adequate nutrition or practice hygiene. Some sanitation stations have been deployed, but current levels are insufficient to stop the global pandemic from ravaging our local streets. While the world shelters in place, most every hotel, office, and dorm is empty. There is plenty of space to provide every homeless person in America a temporary private room. Unfortunately, this comes with challenges of its own. The next best way to help the unsheltered homeless and flatten the curve is to provide tents thereby enabling symptomatic people to isolate themselves, give out soap, and distribute food and water so these individuals can sustainably shelter in place.
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Miami Street Medicine, a free clinic of the Dade County Street Response, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, [EIN 84-1958579] run by medical students that partners with community services and community organizations to deliver care on the street. Through these donations, we aim to assist in the provision of tents, food, and supplies to the unsheltered. Please consider donating to help our friends on the street and prevent the spread of Covid-19 in South Florida.
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Thank you for your consideration.
- Dan B
Founder, Miami Street Medicine
www.miamistreetmedicine.org
