TAMPA — Across Hillsborough County, families are hunkering down at home, hoping their isolation will keep them safe from the coronavirus.

That isn’t an option for the county’s homeless.

With a county-wide order for people to stay indoors now in effect, the city of Tampa is establishing a tent city that will allow up to 100 homeless people to shelter in place.

The city will pay Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg $120,000 to run a temporary homeless camp for the next 30 days. One hundred tents have been pitched and fenced-off on a site that will also include mobile shower trailers, a mobile laundromat and six portable toilets. Its residents will get three meals a day and, if needed, medical treatment.

The homeless are considered at high risk for the coronavirus, in part because they often have poor health. Making matters worse is that their makeshift life-support system of park restrooms, libraries, coffee shops and gyms where they can wash and shelter are now closed.

“We realized we had homeless people on the street as resources started drying up and they would not be able to access food and things they need,” said Vanessa McCleary, the city’s housing and community development manager.

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