Building Community Resilience in the Face of COVID-19/Coronavirus
Facing a public crisis can make us feel powerless, scared, and isolated. However, there are things you can do to support people in your local community and reduce the impact of a public health emergency like COVID-19/Coronavirus.
Consider Your Network
Make a list of the people you know. Friends, romantic partners, supportive family members, acquaintances from a support or social group, neighbors with whom you are friendly. The list might be long, or it might be you and your neighbor.
Once you have your list, think about what each person brings into your life. Maybe they can be counted on to make your food when you’re sick, drive you to an appointment, or even just send you funny photos when you’re sad. All of these things are valuable during an emergency!
Reach Out and Offer Help
Make a list of the people you know who might need extra support during a public health crisis: older adults, people with disabilities or chronic illness, people with young children, or people struggling to make ends meet financially. Consider reaching out to check in, offer support, and build your relationships with one another. One of the best ways to do this is by asking the person, “How can I be helpful to you?”
During difficult times, we all need support, and we can all offer support, but how that support looks will be different for each person and relationship. It might look like someone with a compromised immune system who can’t safely go out in public spending time each day calling people on their list to check on their mental health. It might look like someone whose health isn’t at risk by delivering groceries to an older neighbor. This support can involve a financial exchange (paying for medication for someone who is out of work due to illness), or it can be an offer of labor and emotional connection.
Here are some examples of things people can offer/might need:
• Dropping off groceries, medications, or other necessities outside the door without coming in
• Offering to have a video call at a set time each day or week
• Sharing supplies like hand sanitizer, antiseptic wipes, bleach
• Babysitting for someone whose childcare is unavailable but who still needs to work
• Helping take care of someone’s beloved pet
This is how we build community!
Center on Halsted is here for the community, and we don’t want anyone to feel alone during this challenging situation. The Center exists to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ people and our families, whether those needs are big or small.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here for you.
More resources:
Chicago Department of Health FAQ
Chicago Departamento de Salud — Preguntas más frequentes
