Homelessness, health status, and health care use.

OBJECTIVES

Little is known about the health status of those who are newly homeless. We sought to describe the health status and health care use of new clients of homeless shelters and observe changes in these health indicators over the study period.

METHODS

We conducted a longitudinal study of 445 individuals from their entry into the homeless shelter system through the subsequent 18 months.

RESULTS

Disease was prevalent in the newly homeless. This population accessed health care services at high rates in the year before becoming homeless. Significant improvements in health status were seen over the study period as well as a significant increase in the number who were insured.

CONCLUSION

Newly homeless persons struggle under the combined burdens of residential instability and significant levels of physical disease and mental illness, but many experience some improvements in their health status and access to care during their time in the homeless shelter system.