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Homelessness and Health

Homelessness and Health. University of Michigan Project H Lunch Talk, April 26 th 2004 . Who Is Homeless? . “Chronic Homeless” What we generally think of when we think of homelessness Families Families with children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless

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Homelessness and Health

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  1. Homelessness and Health University of Michigan Project H Lunch Talk, April 26th 2004

  2. Who Is Homeless? • “Chronic Homeless” • What we generally think of when we think of homelessness • Families • Families with children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless • More than 600,000 American kids will sleep in a shelter tonight • The average age of a homeless person: 9 years old.

  3. Why are families homeless? • They don’t have enough money to afford housing!! • There is an affordable housing shortage throughout the United States. • The housing that does exist is very expensive.

  4. The High Cost of Housing • An example: Washtenaw County • To afford a two-bedroom apartment in Washtenaw County, a family head must: • Earn $32,600 per year • Make $15.67 an hour at 40 hours/week • Work 122 hours/week at minimum wage!

  5. The reality… • 12% of all people in the United States live below the official poverty level • Including 17% of children – more than 12 MILLION kids! • The poverty level is $15,260 for a family of three – even at incomes significantly higher than this level, housing is not affordable

  6. Other factors contributing to homelessness in some cases… • Substance Abuse • Mental Illness • Domestic Violence • Family Strife • Unemployment • Disability

  7. Health and Homelessness • The link between poverty and poorer health is well-established. There are also specific risks faced by homeless people. • Homeless people are less likely to have a regular source of healthcare.

  8. Health and Homelessness: Infectious Disease • Crowded living arrangements with many other families means more bug sharing • Homeless are at increased risk of: • Upper respiratory infections • Acute otitis media • Lice • Scabies • Others

  9. Homelessness and Health: Mental Health & Development • Estimates of percent of homeless people with mental illnesses are as high as 80-95% • Homeless and marginally housed kids may have higher rates of depression and behavior problems • Homeless children are more likely to have developmental delays than their housed peers

  10. Homelessness and Health: Nutrition • Income is associated with obesity for all age groups • Homeless face additional problems in access to nutritious food • Homeless children and those in unaffordable housing situations have actually been shown to exhibit growth stunting due to malnutrition

  11. Homelessness and Health: Dental Care • Access to dental care is a huge problem – Medicaid does not cover dental care for adults • Nearly 50% of school-aged children have not seen a dentist in the previous year in one study • 36% of homeless children have dental problems according to family surveys

  12. Homelessness and Health: Child Asthma • Asthma rates are increased for children living in poverty in general, including homeless children • Associated with poor housing conditions: • Dust mites • Cockroaches • Molds • Rodents • URI’s as a trigger (increased due to crowding)

  13. Conclusion • Homelessness is extremely prevalent • Homeless people face unique challenges to their health • What does this mean for you? • Be aware of people’s housing status and associated risk factors • Alter your plan of care to be realistic given people’s living situation

  14. For more information… • This presentation and citations are available at: www.umich.edu/~projectH • You can also find links to other resources there!

  15. Citations • Who is Homeless? • Homes for the Homeless and the Institute for Children and Poverty. “Facts About Homelessness.” www.homesforthehomeless.org • www.alphahouse-ihn.org • The High Cost of Housing • Affordable rent set by U.S. HUD. Calculations compiled by National Low Income Housing Coalition, “Out of Reach” 2003 • Poverty statistics • U.S. Census, 2002 • Health and Homelessness • Karr, Catherine. “Homeless Children: What Every Health Care Provider Should Know.” Compilation of many various studies. Available at www.nhchc.org/children

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