Recently UNANIMA International has released an official statement on Family Homelessness and COVID-19, not solely condemning the insufficient and ill-informed responses to families experiencing homelesnness and housing insecurity around the globe concurrently with the coronavirus pandemic, but also highlighting good practices and urging immediate action to help vulnerable groups.
The purpose of this follow-up report with preliminary research findings on Family Homelessness and COVID-19 is to continue directing attention to the plight of Women and Children, Migrants and Refugees in the wake of this public health crisis. As the report concludes, the term crisis is used justly when discussing the coronavirus pandemic, and the current reality of rising and diversifying Family Homelessness. The more informed decision makers are on the negative effects (already occurring and predicted to occur) from this crisis on the right to adequate housing, the better responses – and work for future prevention – can be.
Within this report you will find some testimonies and first hand observations from service providers. From that same group and other experts you will see disclosure of negative trends, cautious predictions of future gendered consequences of the current pandemic, and descriptions of difficulties we must accept as reality, in order to be able to create change.
In addition to reading this report, we encourage reviewing our official statement, where you will find our recommendations and encouragements to member states of the United Nations, and other political actors. As the effects of this crisis continue to be revealed, UNANIMA International plans to release further research findings. We also predict the COVID-19 crisis will impact our research methodology and impact our other topics of research and advocacy focuses. Rest assured in our commitment to families, Women and Children specifically, and concern for groups including Migrants and Refugees, and always relevantly, our common home of earth.
