https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/California-struggles-to-slow-COVID-19-among-15209659.php
On April 18th, Governor Newsom announced plans titled Project Roomkey to use empty hotels to help some of California’s homeless population, over 150,000 people in total, access better housing and health. While his plans aim to house 15,000 and prioritizes those with prior conditions making them susceptible to severe cases of COVID-19, it’s unclear how successful execution has been as the program has continued. There’s been push back from residents of certain areas, as of now Orange County and Laguna Hills (who’s surprised), with concerns over the probability of increased criminal activity from housing the homeless in these hotels as well as push back from homeless populations for Newsom to take greater action in housing even more of the population. The homeless population in California presents an especially pertinent public issue because over 16% of California’s residents are homeless and cannot isolate or socially distance themselves there’s greater risk of infection in the state if the larger issue of homelessness is not addressed now or in the future.