Can you imagine living through this COVID-19 pandemic if you didn’t feel safe in your home?
As people are being asked to ‘stay home’ during COVID-19, we have to think about how this may affect people whose homes are not the best place to be.
When thinking about what makes us safe in our home, we can think of two things: our relationships within our home and the actual physical structure of our home.
Our relationships in our home can affect both our emotional and physical safety.
The restrictions around COVID-19 are causing additional stress on incomes and mental health and this is contributing to unsafe situations for some people and families.
With these added stresses, rates of domestic violence will likely increase during this pandemic. People whose homes are not a safe place to be and who are told to self-isolate may face a difficult decision – to adhere to the public health instructions or to leave their home for their own (and sometimes their family member’s) safety.
There is help available, though.
CK Public Health works with people who need to self-isolate to connect them with community partners and to support their safety and wellbeing while self-isolating. Do not hesitate to reach out during this pandemic. If there is ever a time when you don’t feel safe, call 911.
The physical environment in our home also affects our safety.
There are people in our community who are living in poor housing conditions, for example sharing close living spaces with many people and having no access to running water. These conditions make it difficult to self-isolate, practice good hand washing, and keep living spaces clean and disinfected. And, put people at higher risk of illness.
At CK Public Health, we know that the things that we are asking people to do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are easier for some than others. We work with our community partners and our community members to support people wherever they are.
COVID-19 is shining a light on many conditions within our society that put certain groups of people at higher risk of infection and illness. These conditions were in place long before COVID-19.
Not everyone’s homes are safe. Unsafe housing conditions, like violence and unmet basic needs, make it hard for some people to follow the COVID-19 rules. And, unsafe housing puts people at a higher risk of danger – not only for COVID-19.
Let’s use this pandemic to learn about and work toward improving the conditions that put people at higher risk for poor health.
Resources:
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
CK Women’s Centre: 1-800-265-0598 or 519-354-6360 https://ckwc.ca/
Kids Help Phone: Text CONNECT to 686868 or call 1-800-668-6868
Chatham-Kent Children’s Services: 519-352-0440
For local housing information, call 519.351.8573 press 3 or go to https://www.chatham-kent.ca/health-social-services/housing-services/about-chatham-kent-housing-services
For more about the factors that impact our health visit our Health Equity Matters webpage.
Other Articles in the Can You Imagine Series
Living through COVID-19 in a different country?
Living through COVID-19 if you had limits on your physical or intellectual abilities?
Living through COVID-19 if you already felt alone?