Residential Mobility of a Cohort of Homeless People in Times of Crisis: COVID-19 Pandemic in an European Metropolis

Most vulnerable individuals are particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study takes place in a large city in France. The aim of this study is to describe the mobility of the homeless population at the begin-ning of the health crisis and to analyze its impact in terms of COVID-19 prevalence. From June to August 2020 and September to December 2020, 1272 homeless people were invited to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and virus in and completed questionnaires. Our data show that homeless populations are sociologically dif-ferent depending on where they live. We show that people living on the street were most likely to be relocated to emergency shelters than other inhabitants. Some neighborhoods are points of attraction for homeless peo-ple in the city while others emptied during the health crisis, which had consequences for virus circulation. People with a greater number of different dwellings reported became more infected. This first study of the mo-bility and epidemiology of homeless people in time of pandemic provides unique information about mobility mapping, sociological factors of this mobility, mobility at different scales and epidemiological consequences. We suggest that homeless policies need to be radically transformed since actual model exposes people to infection in emergency.

The Spatial Optimization of Emergency Shelters Based on an Urban-Scale Evacuation Simulation

As an important space for disaster prevention, the construction of emergency shelters is crucial for the creation of a complete disaster relief facility network. Based on the goal of the prevention of day and night disaster, short-term fixed shelters are taken as the study object of the present work, and models are designed for evacuation simulation and the spatial optimization of shelters. According to the simulation, 680 of the 2334 demand points were found to be incompletely evacuated, and the average time for everyone to be evacuated was 10.3 min. Moreover, of the 888 short-term fixed shelters, only 218 did not reach their maximum capacity. In the context of short-term fixed sheltering, Haizhu was found to have the largest number of non-evacuated people (1.11 million), and the average number of non-evacuated people in Yuexiu was the largest (2184). According to the spatial optimization data of the shelters, the numbers of target plots for new shelter resources that must be added in Haizhu, Yuexiu, Liwa, and Tianhe are 406, 164, 141, and 136, respectively, the effective shelter areas of which are 2,621,100, 2,175,300, 812,100, and 1,344,600 m2, respectively. A total of 487 short-term fixed shelters and 360 temporary shelters were newly added, and the recommended scales for Haizhu, Liwan, Tianhe, and Yuexiu were 243, 70, 58, and 116, respectively, with average effective areas of 6169 m2, 5577 m2, 8707 m2, and 12,931 m2, respectively. Additionally, the recommended scales of newly added temporary shelters in Haizhu, Liwan, Tianhe, and Yuexiu are 163, 71, 78, and 48, with an average effective area of 2706, 2581, 4017, and 6234 m2, respectively. These findings provide a direct quantitative basis for the spatial optimization of various types of emergency shelters, and the method proposed in this paper supports the planning and layout of emergency shelters, as well as the improvement of the efficiency of urban resource allocation.

A PANDEMIA E SEUS IMPACTOS PARA A POPULAÇÃO EM SITUAÇÃO DE RUA

Quais as implicações da pandemia para a população em situação de rua? Quais foram as respostas do Estado? Há um novo perfil de pessoas em situação de rua? Esses são alguns dos elementos discutidos neste artigo, cujo objetivo é debater sobre as implicações das medidas de contenção da pandemia do novo coronavírus para a vida desse grupo populacional. Trata-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica, feita em dois sítios digitais no período entre março a julho de 2020, pautada pela teoria crítica. Os resultados indicam que houve crescimento dos que vivem nas ruas, e sua sobrevivência foi obstaculizada, visto a impossibilidade ou redução da realização dos trabalhos informais, sua principal fonte de sobrevivência. O Estado brasileiro ampliou o número de vagas em abrigos, criou abrigos emergenciais, instalou pias em locais públicos, todavia, tais medidas foram insuficientes para lidar com a questão.THE PANDEMIC OF COVID-19 AND ITS INCIDENCES FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATIONAbstractWhat are the implications of the pandemic for the homeless? What were the State's responses? Is there a new profile of homeless people? These are some of the elements discussed in this article, which aims to discuss the implications of the measures to contain the pandemic of the new coronavirus for the life of this population group. This is a bibliographical research, carried out in two websites from March to July 2020, based on the critical theory. The results indicate that there has been an increase of those who live on the streets, and their survival has been hindered, given the impossibility or reduction of informal work, their main source of survival. The Brazilian State expanded the number of places in shelters, created emergency shelters, installed sinks in public places, however, such measures were insufficient to deal with the issue.Keywords: Population in homeless situation. Pandemic. Role of the State.

The March 2021 Thessaly earthquakes and their impact through the prism of a multi-hazard approach in disaster management

In early March 2021, when Greece was struggling with the evolving third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with the highest numbers of daily cases and fatalities from its initiation, Thessaly was struck by a seismic sequence, which included the 3 March, Mw = 6.3 mainshock, its strongest Mw = 6.1 aftershock the following day and numerous large aftershocks. The mainshock caused extensive damage to houses and infrastructure, while the aftershock aggravated damage and caused widespread concern among residents. Based on post-event field surveys in the affected area, it is concluded that the old unreinforced houses with load-bearing masonry walls in the northeastern part of the Thessaly basin suffered the most, while the recent constructions remained intact. As a result, hundreds of homeless were in need of immediate temporary sheltering, which immediately mobilized the Civil Protection authorities to manage the emergency situation. This emergency had something unique, which made its management a challenge: the implementation of the earthquake emergency response actions was incompatible with the measures to limit the further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the community during the evolving third pandemic wave. Many of the actions have been adapted to the unprecedented conditions through a prism of a multi-hazard approach to disaster management and their impact. Among others, more and different types of emergency shelters were used to prevent overcrowding, emergency supplies distribution processes were modified to prevent transmission through hands and surfaces, places for the identification and isolation of suspected COVID-19 cases were designated in emergency shelters and extensive and regular screening testing of the local population was conducted for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus. From the analysis of the daily reported COVID-19 cases in the earthquake-affected area during the pre- and post- disaster periods as well as from results of rapid testing during the post-disaster period, it was found that the viral load of the earthquake-affected villages was not increased, despite the difficult and unprecedented conditions. It can be suggested that the adaptation of the measures to the new conditions has worked beneficially to reduce the spread of the new virus among those affected and the involved staff. For this reason, this approach could be considered as good practice and important lesson learned, which can be applied to similar future compound emergencies in areas with similar geoenvironmental and epidemiological characteristics.

ShelteringThe Underbelly Of Society: Architecture As A Means Of Achieving Dignity For Those Living In A City's Residual Spaces

The attachment of the homeless to the city's residual spaces is a result of a lack of choice, but in some instances, it is a preference. This thesis focuses on the latter in addressing the housing needs of those who prefer to live outdoors rather than in the institutionalized environment of emergency shelters, or even permanent housing. It explores the role of architecture in empowering independence, dignity, and security without socially engineering the homeless and changing their lifestyle. This exploration is informed by the works of architects, urban geographers, cultural critics, artists and psychologists, among them the members of the Situationist International, Bernard Tschumi, Donald MacDonald, Michael Benedikt, David Harvey, Neil Smith, and Abraham Maslow. It proposes an alternative scenario whereby those persons preferring to live outdoors may be safely, decently, and innovatively sheltered independently in some of the many residual spaces found on streets and in parks.

ShelteringThe Underbelly Of Society: Architecture As A Means Of Achieving Dignity For Those Living In A City's Residual Spaces

The attachment of the homeless to the city's residual spaces is a result of a lack of choice, but in some instances, it is a preference. This thesis focuses on the latter in addressing the housing needs of those who prefer to live outdoors rather than in the institutionalized environment of emergency shelters, or even permanent housing. It explores the role of architecture in empowering independence, dignity, and security without socially engineering the homeless and changing their lifestyle. This exploration is informed by the works of architects, urban geographers, cultural critics, artists and psychologists, among them the members of the Situationist International, Bernard Tschumi, Donald MacDonald, Michael Benedikt, David Harvey, Neil Smith, and Abraham Maslow. It proposes an alternative scenario whereby those persons preferring to live outdoors may be safely, decently, and innovatively sheltered independently in some of the many residual spaces found on streets and in parks.

Shelter management during pandemics: lessons from cascading risks of cyclones and COVID-19

Purpose The concept of multi-purpose cyclone shelters has been found effective in saving various lives during past cyclones. The recent cyclone Amphan, which hit the Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal in the middle of pandemic COVID-19 has posed severe issues related to cyclone shelter management in the rural areas. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the case of Odisha in a pandemic and draw some key lessons of cyclone shelter management, which can be useful for future cascading risks in other parts of the country and the region. Design/methodology/approach Cyclone shelters are critical infrastructures in the management of cyclones, associated hazards and saving crucial lives. The effective management of shelters during emergencies is dependent on the existing institutional mechanism, local stakeholders and their understanding of the key functions of the emergency shelters. This paper reviews the key challenges through literature, reports and direct interviews of field professionals and practitioners. Findings In normal times, cyclone shelters are used as schools and their management lies with the local communities and/or elected bodies. Some of the key emerging issues include: the convincing population at risk for evacuation with proper care, existing emergency shelters being repurposed as COVID-19 facilities, need for hygiene and safety material, special arrangement and segregation of population at higher risk of COVID-19 and large destruction of social infrastructures. Originality/value During cascading disasters, adaptive governance becomes important. With the study of cyclones during the pandemic period, the paper draws key decision-making and governance points of cyclone shelter management. This case analysis can be useful to other similar situations during the prolonged pandemic time.