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Homeless in 43 Counties Most Vulnerable To COVID-19

Homeless encampments along a Los Angeles roadside on April 8, depicting the growing epidemic of homelessness amid the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Image by Philip Pilosian/Shutterstock. United States, 2020.

Homeless encampments along a Los Angeles roadside on April 8, depicting the growing epidemic of homelessness amid the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Image by Philip Pilosian/Shutterstock. United States, 2020.

The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism developed a vulnerability index to understand which counties' homeless populations might struggle the most in the COVID-19 outbreak. The index was based on an analysis of homeless and poverty rates, as well as the numbers of doctors and shelter beds in a given area.

This project was supported by the Pulitzer Center and produced by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The Howard Center is an initiative of the Scripps Howard Foundation in honor of the late news industry executive and pioneer Roy W. Howard.


COVID-19 Update: The connection between local and global issues–the Pulitzer Center's long standing mantra–has, sadly, never been more evident. We are uniquely positioned to serve the journalists, news media organizations, schools and universities we partner with by continuing to advance our core mission: enabling great journalism and education about underreported and systemic issues that resonate now–and continue to have relevance in times ahead. We believe that this is a moment for decisive action. Learn more about the steps we are taking.