Homelessness and Health: Causes, Risks and Common Problems

Every night, hundreds of thousands of people in the United States experience homelessness — some chronically, others after temporarily losing their shelter.

Causes

The reasons are complex, often a combination of:

• poverty and unemployment;
• lack of affordable housing;
• mental and substance use disorders;
• trauma and violence, including intimate partner violence;
• involvement with the justice system;
• sudden serious illness;
• divorce, or the death of a partner or parent;
• disabilities.

A two-way link

Poor health can lead to homelessness, and homelessness can lead to poor health. Things that make health worse include:

• limited access to health care;
• trouble getting enough food;
• trouble staying safe, and violence;
• stress;
• unsanitary living conditions;
• exposure to severe weather.

Common health problems

• HIV;
• lung diseases, including bronchitis, tuberculosis and pneumonia;
• malnutrition;
• mental health and substance use problems;
• wounds and skin infections.

Many people without homes are coping with trauma — abuse or assault. That includes children, who are at risk of emotional and behavioral problems.

Getting help

Contact your local homelessness assistance agency for help such as shelters, health centers and free meals.

Sources

Based on "Homelessness and Health," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.