During the great depression of the 1930s, some US states distributed tiny houses where a family member sick with tuberculosis could live and avoid transmitting it to the rest of the family. This was part of FDR's New Deal.

Why not do the same now for Covid-19?

The job would be easier now, since Covid-19 will usually stop being contagious after a few weeks. The state could then retrieve the no-longer-needed tiny house and autoclave it, and provide it to someone else.

The article calls this "learned helplessness", but I think it is intentional sabotage on the part of the Republicans. Then have done plenty to demonstrate their ill will in dealing with Covid-19.