Seattle?s King County, which has reported the most Covid-19 deaths, is home to the country?s third-largest homeless population. | AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File

Washing your hands and stocking up on food isn?t easy to do if you don?t have a permanent address Stay home, stock up on food, wash hands frequently. Stephanie V is acutely aware of what public health officials are recommending she do to prevent Covid-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. It?s just completely unreasonable?if not impossible?for her to follow the advice, says Stephanie, who lives in her car in Lakewood, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, with her dog and cat. ?It?s pretty frustrating if you don?t have a home.?
Like many Americans with limited resources, the coronavirus outbreak has made Stephanie?s life even more complicated. ?I can?t stock up on anything to get me through an extended period of illness,? she says. ?I would have to go out every couple of days at least to get fresh food since I can?t store anything that needs to be refrigerated or heat anything up. I also need to be able to wash my hands and use the restroom, which I can?t do in my car. Plus I have a dog that needs to be taken out, so even if I?m sick, I have to take care of her.? Hand-washing has been a particular concern for Stephanie since shelves were emptied at local stores, with hand-sanitizing products difficult to find. She didn't expect people to go on panic-buying sprees for the essentials that she relies on....