By: Sadeq Hosseini, Farbod Khalili: IranThisWay.com| Coronavirus has become a household name in its short existence among us. Months of lockdown and extreme caution have turned us all into self-proclaimed virologists and epidemiologists. So, by now, you should know well that staying home is one of the best and easiest ways to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
\nBut have you ever wondered what happens to the homeless?
\nAfter all, they are among the most vulnerable to coronavirus.
\nFigures show at least two percent of the world\u2019s population -or about 150 million people- does not have a home.
\nThe pandemic shut down homeless shelters, just like other public places and businesses, over fears that outbreaks in crowded facilities with vulnerable people in poor health could be catastrophic.
\nTherefore, hotels, parking lots, stadiums, and other facilities that could house rough sleepers were turned into emergency shelters for the homeless.
\nTehran, just like other megacities, is dealing with the homelessness problem. Some studies put the number of the capital\u2019s rough sleepers at around 10 thousand. But data provided by the municipality shows homeless shelters do not operate on full capacity in warmer months of the year. In other words, the homeless prefer to stay homeless unless it is absolutely necessary! But the outbreak changed everything.
\nThere are currently 62 social service shelters operating across Tehran with the capacity of over 64 hundred. Every year, about 300 thousand people -the homeless, street beggars, and other needy individuals- use the services provided by these centers. They range in age from 18 to 90 years. But most of the homeless are between 35 to 40 years old.
\nSoon after the emergence of the outbreak, Tehran municipality took extreme precautionary measures in line with general health protocols to prepare these homes for the new situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are on in a shelter for homeless women in a western neighborhood of Tehran. Tehran municipality built and equipped this place with the help of donors.
\nOne of the early challenges facing almost all cities all around the world was the shortage of face masks. And this was no exception for the shelters. In fact, given that most of the homeless suffer from long term conditions, becoming infected with the virus could have severe consequences for them. So, the shelters started to produce their own masks; thousands of them every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n