Street Spirit interview with Dr. Harrison Alter on COVID-19 in the Unhoused Community

Despite initial fears that COVID-19 would devastate the homeless community, Alameda County has maintained a surprisingly low positivity rate among unhoused individuals—just 2.2% compared to 5% countywide. Dr. Harrison Alter, interim Medical Director for Alameda County Healthcare for the Homeless, attributes this success to a mix of factors, including shelter decompression, street outreach, and strategic testing initiatives like Operation Comfort and Operation Safer Ground. His work highlights a powerful truth: housing is healthcare. The pandemic has not only reinforced the urgency of protecting vulnerable populations but has also shifted public perception on solutions to homelessness. Learn how innovative public health strategies are reshaping emergency care for unhoused communities.