Homelessness, health inequalities and the need for immediate action.

The number of people experiencing homelessness in a growing challenge across the four countries of the UK. Homelessness bring with it a multitude of issues, including health inequality and shorter life expectancies Nurses and other healthcare professionals play an important role in providing health services to people experiencing homelessness. This article argues that ill health in the family and delayed development in the children, caused by homelessness, places a greater demand for NHS services, all of which could be prevented by the family being suitably housed.