As the coronavirus pandemic races across the city, homeless youth risk being left behind in public-health plans.

For a population that includes runaways, LGBTQ teens without a permanent place to sleep and other young vulnerable people living in shelters, guidance to keep six feet away from each other or self-isolate is a nearly impossible challenge.

While the city Department of Homeless Services has released guidelines for how shelters for adults should respond to new health guidelines, the Department of Youth and Community Development has not released guidelines for youth shelters.

The Coalition for Homeless Youth called the agency’s reluctance “complete negligence.

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