Social distancing and staying at home to avoid contracting the coronavirus is a complicated request for some of the poorest members of society, including the homeless and those in public housing. Paul Young, Director of Memphis Housing and Community Development, says the City of Memphis is implementing several solutions to help low – or no income people adhere to the safer-at-home order, like housing homeless individuals and families in hotels.
Young joins host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries for this week’s WKNO-TV's Behind the Headlines. Young talks about a few of the needs that have become prevalent for people in poverty because of the pandemic, including WiFi connection for school and work, as well as access and transportation to a screening and testing location. Young says his agency is collaborating with many organizations across the Mid-South, like Church Health and MIFA, to meet some of the needs that have arisen.