A 2025 Update on Homelessness and a Free Clinics Response to Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Lessons from COVID-19 Patients
Linda Washington-Brown *
Miami Rescue Mission Clinic, Miami, Florida, United States.
Jasmine Miles
Larkin University School of Pharmacy, Miami, Florida, United States.
Pete A. Gutierrez
Miami Rescue Mission Clinic, Miami, Florida, United States.
Gisela Bretones-Graham
Miami Rescue Mission Clinic, Miami, Florida, United States.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In late 2019, a 26-year-old homeless man died from complications of SARS-CoV-2. The patient was initially seen in a free clinic and quickly transported to the nearest local hospital for diagnostic confirmation and treatment. Since 2019, the global and national death toll has declined, but remains a threat to vulnerable populations worldwide, especially the homeless. This chapter examines the evolving epidemiological landscape of COVID-19, its disproportionate impact on people experiencing homelessness, and the essential role of community health providers in bridging care gaps for marginalized populations.
Keywords: Viral evolution, genomic surveillance system, workforce shortages, sustainable funding mechanisms, public health