Whereas before, COVID-19 pandemic situation is getting better, though, not completely diminished. Back when COVID-19 cases were on its peak, where everything was new and the world was in a confusion. Things were not dealt adequately as the federal and provincial governments were focusing on researching about COVID-19 and the mandates before homelessness community come into priority. As everything has gotten sorted out, and things are more predictable and operating smoothly, the federal and provincial government has approached closely to help homelessness community.
Federal government does recognize that helping homeless people are as important as dealing with COVID-19 for general public. Because majority of the homeless people are in a bad health condition due to weak immune system, addiction issue complicated with their physical health, more frequent exposure to the public, and mental health issue associated with weaker immune system.
Fortunately, COVID-19 pandemic is slowly decreasing in cases, which not only affects the general public but affects the homelessness community too. Homelessness community may be under fear that they may not get extra care from the federal government anymore since pandemic is slowly subsiding. At its moment currently, federal programs and the government are continuing to raise funds for homelessness community and offering more lenient and flexible shelters for homeless people in need. However, things may change after COVID-19 pandemic subsides or people gradually adapt to COVID-19 as the new norm.
It is a possibility that federal government may slowly remove additional treatment that has been offered during COVID-19 pandemic toward homelessness community.
That means no more lenient and flexible housing opportunity for homelessness individuals.
Abruptly removing flexible housing opportunity for homelessness individuals will be unfair to homelessness individual who already has adapted to the convenience of enhanced treatment. At its worst scenario, facilities may start to end contract for homeless facility residents as the funding may not be sufficient enough to support people after COVID-19 pandemic ends and the federal government no longer funds the programs enough money.
Then, the homelessness individuals will have to deal with living in the public again, putting themselves at an unfortunate situation. Needing to adjust themselves in the cold weather and danger.
It could be understandable that the federal government starts reducing the special housing vacancies that were present during pandemic because of the increased number of critically ill individuals because of the complication of COVID-19 and their health.
The funding may not be sufficient enough anymore as the federal government may wish to invest in other subjects as COVID-19 becomes less important issue.
Federal government should continue to fund the homelessness programs, but possibly lower the funding gradually with the decrease of pandemic cases. So that homelessness individuals would be more inclined to adapt to the change as the additional benefits they’ve gotten in the past changes its offers.
Federal government should analyze the general data after they have increased their funding toward homelessness community to see how it has positively affected them. In the moments where things have had positively drastic change they could consider leaving some of the benefits even after the pandemic has ended.