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.
Sounds From the Street: Advocate Kate Coventry on the D.C. Winter Plan
Sounds From the Street: Adam Motiwala on Digital Training for the Homeless
Sounds From the Street: Writer Nick Flynn on Reconnecting with His Father
Sounds From the Street: Father Tom Weston on Addiction and Recovery
Sounds From the Street: Christie Jones on Her Children’s Book About Homelessness
Sounds From the Street: Executive Director Brian Carome on the State of Homelessness
Sounds From the Street: DHS Director Laura Zeilinger on Affordable Housing
Sounds From the Street: Entrepreneur Ken Martin Wears Many Hats
Sounds From the Street: Robert Williams on Service, Respect and Art
Sounds From the Street: Benjamin Gates on Busking, Part 2 of 2
Sounds From the Street: Benjamin Gates on Busking, Part 1 of 2
Sounds From the Street: Angie Whitehurst Part 2 of 2 - A Life Resumed
Sounds From the Street: Angie Whitehurst Part 1 of 2 - A Life Interrupted
Sounds From the Street: Jeffery McNeil on Self-Determination
Sounds From the Street: Cynthia Mewborn on PTSD and Recovery
Sounds From the Street: Levester Green on Art and Finding Stability
Sounds From the Street: Sasha Williams on Finding a Home
Sounds From the Street: Bardia Saeedi on the Homeless Art Bus
Sounds From the Street: Eric Thompson-Bey on Go-go, Homelessness and more
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