Personal Security Among Vulnerable Populations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Invisible Variables
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How are the safety, means, and autonomy of vulnerable populations in Greater Boston uniquely affected by the COVID-19 crisis?
Social Distancing Mandates Affect Vulnerable Populations Differently.
Implicit assumptions in these measures are that Americans are safer at home, that Americans should be able to weather the storm financially, or that a shelter-in-place order is an easy sacrifice to make. However well-intended, these assumptions are based on a faulty premise: that Americans are universally secure-- that is, they live lives in relative safety, have means to fulfill their needs and obligations, and have the ability to optimize their decisions to meet desired outcomes. But this is not the case. There are often invisible stressors on systems like housing, employment, and wellness. Just because someone “on paper” has housing or healthcare does not mean they are safe or secure.