even if a person without a home has a health card or is employed, it’s also difficult to make appointments with various providers without a set address or have a place to recover after or during treatment.
in some cases, prioritizing basic needs, such as obtaining food, becomes a priority for people who are homeless, putting other less pressing matters, such as health complaints, on the back burner.
while there are some programs available to help lessen these challenges for people living without homes, such as the uhn foundation’s peer support program, there is no denying that optimal health and homelessness do not go hand in hand.
the negative health effects of homelessness are vast
people living without set addresses are subject to a higher risk of early death, musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain, hunger and nutrition-driven illness, skin and foot problems, infectious diseases, dental problems, respiratory illness, chronic diseases and disorders, and mental health issues. according to research, as many as 85 per cent of people who are experiencing homelessness have a chronic health condition.
in the case of early death, people living without set addresses are often exposed to the elements, such as extreme hot or cold temperatures, which can lead to freezing, hypothermia, and frostbite if they are cold, and severe sunburn and heatstroke if they are hot.
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