Health and Homelessness

"Health challenges faced by the homeless." "Health challenges faced by the homeless." | In this video, channel 4 news discusses the obstacles the homeless face in maintaining good health on the streets. Load video

There is a strong correlation between health and homelessness. Poor health often causes homelessness. Homelessness is often caused by poor physical or mental health.

Homelessness affects people in both developed and developing nations. It occurs when people lack safe, adequate, and stable places to live. We associate people living on the streets with homelessness. However, even someone sleeping on a friend’s couch or living in inadequate motels qualifies as a homeless person.

Health is the state of a person’s mental or physical condition. It is an important asset, and its deterioration has a terrible impact on our lives. There is a very strong correlation between poor health and homelessness.

The impact of homelessness on physical and mental health

Acute physical or mental crises can result in people losing their homes. Households tend to be intolerant of individuals with physical or mental disabilities. More often than not, these unfortunate individuals are harassed and taken advantage of. If they can’t find a stable form of treatment or reprieve from their present condition, they are forced to leave their homes.

On the flip side, the condition of being homeless can exacerbate existing health conditions or introduce more concerning ones. It is difficult living in uncertainty, especially over the long term.

The stress associated with moving from one shelter to another and having to survive every day can take a toll on one’s mental condition. Many homeless people turn to drugs and alcohol to find reprieve. This introduces a fresh problem that further worsens their health and makes it even tougher for them to find a home. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, people in homeless shelters are twice as likely to be suffering from a disability as compared to the masses.

As of 2017, 20 percent of the homeless population was suffering from a serious mental illness on any given night. Meanwhile, 16 percent of the homeless people were suffering from substance abuse and over 10,000 of them had HIV/AIDS. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, serious health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS exist in higher rates among the homeless masses. A homeless person is three to six times likelier to suffer from these conditions than an average person with a home.

The impact of substance abuse and homelessness on physical and mental health

Homeless individuals suffering from substance abuse disorders are more likely to be afflicted by life-threatening physical conditions. They are also more likely to be living in dangerous conditions. Over 10 percent of people who seek treatment for mental or substance abuse disorders are homeless.

Opiods

One of the biggest crises in the US in recent times has been the rise in the abuse of opioids. The number of people abusing prescription drugs has experienced an unfortunate boost. As of 2017, approximately 18 million people were abusing medications at least once in the past year. It is a concerning fact that over 6 percent of these were youth aged 12 or older.

There are a variety of factors responsible for the dramatic rise in drug abuse, but the most significant one is the ease of access. While the opioid crisis has affected all kinds of people, it has had a particularly harmful effect on the homeless masses. It is not only an enormous risk factor for homelessness, but it can be exacerbated over the long term as well. The need for appropriate health care access is imperative.

Health treatment and preventive care for the homeless

Treatment and preventive care can be especially difficult to access for homeless people. They lack insurance, and financial resources, and have difficulty dealing with health care providers around them. Once the barriers to high-quality health care facilities are removed, it will become easier for the homeless masses to survive and improve their lives. Currently, there are some excellent options available to homeless people.

Many communities consist of Federally Qualified Health Centers. For instance, Health Care for the Homeless Clinics provides basic health services to people free of any significant costs. The introduction of the Affordable Care Act has further allowed states to improve their Medicaid programs. This enables them to cover the poorest and most vulnerable sections of their populations.

Ensuring healthier homeless people

Improving access to health care facilities is an important step. Since there is such a strong correlation between poor health and homelessness, the improvement in health conditions can have a very positive impact on homeless lives. However, yet another important solution is increasing housing options for homeless people. It sounds obvious, but the fact is that the best way to reduce homelessness across the board is to increase the number of available and affordable housing units nationwide.

Additionally, access to housing must become unconditional. States must invest in housing for low-income households. There is a need for more affordable housing units for a growing population of homeless people.

Housing first

There is also a need for ‘Housing First’ across the US. This is the principle of giving unconditional accommodation to a homeless person up-front. The person can then access other forms of support as well. This differs from expecting a homeless person to ‘qualify’ for housing. This policy guarantees a home for the homeless and gives them a stable base for dealing with other problems. Finland implemented ‘Housing First’ and achieved immense success. In the US, Veterans Affairs has reduced homelessness to a vast extent using this approach.

What citizens can do to improve the health care system for homeless people

As a citizen, you won’t be able to improve the health care system overnight. But, you can change your attitudes for the better. For starters, every citizen must make it a point to empathize with homeless people. We must not be wary of greeting them or engaging with them. We must acknowledge their existence as worthy human beings.

It is also possible to prepare special care packages for the homeless. These could include food, water, and clothes that will help them get through another day. Volunteering at drop-in centers, food banks, or local shelters will also have an impact. Not only will it allow you to help the homeless, but it will also make it easier for you to empathize with them. You can make donations to charities or programs geared towards ending homelessness.

Such programs need all the funds they can get to have a positive impact on the lives of the homeless. Even a paltry amount donated by you can go a long way in helping the needy. You could also consider becoming an advocate for the homeless. This can include educating people about the plight of the homeless.

You can also fight for the rights of those who face constant harassment. By raising awareness like this, you can improve the lives of the homeless. If you are a homeless person suffering from poor health conditions, you have a few options. Your first move should be to check in with your community’s Federally Qualified Health Centers. You can find out more about them by asking around or searching them up on the Internet. You may also reach out to social workers and relevant NGOs. They will help you get in touch with facilities like rehab.