Coronavirus: SC Co. Housing, Food Anxiety Spike Amid Pandemic

SANTA CLARA COUNTY — The Bill Wilson Center, a Santa Clara County nonprofit partner that shelters homeless and at-risk youths, on Tuesday reported increased stress levels and food and housing insecurity among its clients because of the coronavirus outbreak.

After conducting a survey of 208 clients, the Bill Wilson Center said 70 percent of its surveyed clients — which includes youths, young adults and families — are facing increased stress
levels directly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Besides shelter, the nonprofit provides case management services and advocacy to county residents.

According to the center, 59 percent of those surveyed also reported difficulty finding food, and 12 percent reported dependency on food pantries and fast food outlets because of a lack of means to
prepare food.

Hygiene was also mentioned as an issue, with 22 percent of respondents reporting lack of access to clean soap and water to wash their hands.

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Additionally, 38 percent of those surveyed reported a change in living situation due to the coronavirus crisis,including one client who said they lived in a garage before the coronavirus
outbreak but are now homeless and living in their car.

Two-thirds of those surveyed who had jobs before the outbreak have now either lost their jobs or have lost income,and 68 percent of that same demographic have not filed for unemployment
benefits, according to the nonprofit.

"This report gives us a startling, but much more accurate picture of the issue's effect on our
clients," the nonprofit's CEO Sparky Harlan said of the coronavirus
outbreak.

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