Faculty practice at a homeless shelter for women and children.

Homelessness in America has significantly increased in recent years. Exact numbers of homeless persons in the United States are difficult to assess, though estimates of homeless persons range from 250,000 to 3 million. The homeless population has shifted to include women and children, including two parent families. Providing health care for the homeless is one of the most important and challenging health issues today. There are many barriers to providing adequate health care. The purpose of this article is to describe the complexity of the role and the experiences of a pediatric nurse practitioner at a clinic in a homeless shelter that houses approximately 30 women and children.