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Coronavirus Shelter-in-Place Order Leaves Homeless With Nowhere to Go

San Francisco announced an order Monday that requires residents to stay at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But for homeless San Franciscans, “shelter in place” may be next to impossible. The health order exempts homeless San Franciscans, of whom more than 5,100 live unsheltered, but they are “strongly urged to obtain shelter.” However, San Francisco’s homeless response system has long been overburdened, even for resources like emergency shelter. As of March 16, the city’s shelter waitlist was 799 people — and may become even longer if shelters begin spacing beds apart to practice social distancing.