They Forgot about Us’: Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic among People Deprived of Housing in an Urban Centre in Ontario, Canada

In their scholarly article “‘They Forgot about Us’: Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among People Deprived of Housing in an Urban Centre in Ontario, Canada,” social scientists Larkin Lamarche, Eilish Scallan, Orianna Mak, Jillian Howden, Claire Bodkin, Lisa Nussey, Kelly Wolf, Jody Ans, Danielle Delottinville, Tim O’Shea, and Robin Lennox examine the experiences of unhoused individuals in Hamilton during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between June and July 2020, the team conducted 21 interviews with people living on the streets, revealing significant barriers to survival such as inaccessible shelter systems with inconsistent hours and exclusion from public health decision-making. One interviewee, Jen, described the hardship of lacking bathroom access for three weeks following the closure of public facilities before portable toilets were installed. The pandemic also worsened mental health outcomes; Sam recounted the loss of friendships and social spaces due to social distancing, which increased isolation. Despite these challenges, participants highlighted the emergence of community and mutual aid among the unhoused.

These firsthand accounts provide a critical COVID-19 storytelling perspective by centering voices frequently marginalized in mainstream pandemic narratives. The testimonies expose how failures in public health and social services intensified vulnerabilities during the crisis. By documenting personal experiences of deprivation, isolation, and resilience, the study illuminates the complex social realities of homelessness under pandemic conditions. It underscores the need for inclusive public health policies that address the specific challenges faced by unhoused populations during health emergencies.