“Stay at Home” Inhabiting Public Space During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Productions of Care with People Experiencing Homelessness in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires

Abstract

Living on the streets is a global public health problem that is institutionalized in different local contexts. After the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was declared in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA), the care coverage for Persons Experiencing Homelessness (PEH) was reduced to a few social and community organizations. This paper presents the preliminary results of participatory research using a network research design. We worked with referents from community organizations and PEH, combining synchronous and asynchronous actions through digital media and face-to-face strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic scenario generates challenges for interventions with PEH by revaluating narratives of risk. The relationship between self-care and collective care is problematized in the responses generated by civil society to ensure continuity of care in this socio-health emergency.