Poor Health and Homelessness

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As many of us already know, homelessness is a complex and multifaceted issue, often driven by a combination of factors like economic instability, lack of affordable housing, and social inequities. With that being said, there is a critical but sometimes overlooked contributor to homelessness that is poor health. Linking things like mental disorders, drug use, and financial stability to homelessness is very common, yet we tend to ignore the ways that having pre-existing poor psychical health can lead to homelessness. The relationship between health and housing is deeply intertwined, as chronic illnesses, mental health disorders, and physical abilities can destabilize lives and make it increasingly difficult to maintain a home. 

When health deteriorates, it can easily lead you to a cascade of future challenges. Medical expenses can quickly become unmanageable, especially for people without health insurance. It only takes one prolonged hospital stay or ongoing need for expensive medication to drain our bank accounts, and leave us in a big financial ruin. On top of that, chronic health conditions or disabilities can impede a person's ability to work, resulting in job loss and a reduced capacity to pay rent or mortgages. This economic strain can make even basic housing unaffordable. 

Mental Health Is Just As Important

Mental health issues play just as significant of a role in this cycle. Disorders like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia can make it difficult for anyone to navigate daily life, maintain employment, or seek necessary support. Not to mention the stigma around mental health can easily discourage people from asking for help, leaving them isolated and vulnerable to losing their homes. 

Disabilities and autoimmune disorders may require accommodations that landlords are unwilling to provide, leading to housing instability. For people already living on the edge of poverty, the added strain of managing a health crisis can be the tipping point. 

Now take into account something we can control: staying active. Links have been found between lack of exercise and homelessness. While time is a privilege, it is mostly the only thing holding us back from staying as healthy as we should be, but with that being said, little to no resources are needed to get your steps in every day. 

Addressing this issue requires a systemic approach. Increasing access to affordable healthcare, expanding mental health services, ensuring housing policies consider the needs of those with chronic illness/disabilities, and prioritizing exercise are critical steps. By treating housing and health as interconnected human rights, society can create a safety net that prevents the downward spiral from poor health to homelessness. 


https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6475440/ 

https://nhchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/homelessness-and-health.pdf  

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