Podcast: How COVID-19 Affected DC's Homeless Population

WASHINGTON, DC — For many of the homeless men and women who sell the Street Sense newspaper in Washington, D.C., the COVID-19 pandemic was just another obstacle they had to deal with in their day-to-day lives.

The restrictions caused by the pandemic had a significant impact on Street Sense vendor Queenie Featherstone's ability to communicate with others. As a woman with a hearing disability, she relied on reading lips to understand what people said. The mask mandate made that nearly impossible and don't get her started on social distancing.

"That part kind of hurts my heart, because I've always been a people person of hugging or greeting or kissing, in a friendly manner," she said, with a chuckle. "But now because of this pandemic, I air hug."

Featherstone demonstrated by crossing her arms across her chest and gesturing for the person she was talking to to do the same.

"We air hug each other, but it's not like the physical greeting of your fellow man," she said. "This is different."

This week's episode of the "Look at This" podcast examines the big and small ways the COVID-19 pandemic affected the daily lives of the District's homeless population.

• Episode 1: DC's Homeless Share Their Stories On New Podcast Series
• Episode 2: DC Homeless Woman Finds Path To College Degree, Career
• Episode 3: DC's Homeless Deliver Poetry Straight From The Streets
• Episode 4: What It Takes To Be A Tent Facilitator In DC
• Episode 5: Homeless Man Chooses Life Of Peaceful Activism And Music

"Look At This" is a podcast series produced by the homeless men and women who sell the weekly Street Sense newspaper in Washington, D.C. Michael O'Connell, a D.C.-area journalist, podcaster, and editor at Patch, oversees the production of "Look At This."

The podcast series is a production of Street Sense Media, a nonprofit whose mission is to end homelessness in the Washington, D.C. area. It does this by providing people with the skills and tools they need to become more confident and empowered.

In service of its mission, Street Sense Media produces journalism about homelessness issues in the D.C. area, publishing it in a variety of platforms, including film, theater, photography, illustration, and podcasting.It also publishes the weekly Street Sense newspapers, which the homeless vendors sell as a way to earn income.