Health in Homeless Communities

Homeless people are at significantly greater risk of health issues, both physical and mental, than housed people. The high cost of healthcare and basic medical treatment, psychiatric or otherwise, in the United States makes it increasingly difficult for homeless communities to seek help when in need of medical attention. As a result, money that they possess is more likely to go towards paying for food, water, or shelter than the high cost of hospital bills—no matter how much they may need the treatment. 

According to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, homelessness itself can be an extremely traumatic experience, and can cause mental health issues that can have lasting impacts on homeless people and their respective conditions. According to an article by Psychiatric Times, the following are the leading reasons why homeless people ultimately avoid medical treatment: transportation, cost of care, communication, and stigma and vulnerability. The article mentions that common preconceptions about homeless communities leads to violence being perpetrated against them, with a noticeably higher rate of violence being inflicted on those with mental health struggles. They also often lack access to safe and affordable transportation that could take them to a doctor, which creates another barrier that prevents their access to healthcare.

In 2021, Portland launched the Portland Street Response program, which is a non-police response team trained specifically in assisting homeless individuals who are experiencing emergencies. The pilot program tended only to certain neighborhoods, but is expanding citywide at the end of this month. This is undoubtedly a mark of progress for homeless individuals in Portland, but it is only the beginning of an issue that needs to be more heavily addressed and understood. You can read more about the Portland Street Response program at https://www.portland.gov/streetresponse.

Graph courtesy of National Alliance to End Homelessness.

- Seamus Coyle