Health issues of the homeless

Homeless adults died at twice the rate of New York City adults from 2001 through 2003, according to a new report from the City Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and Homeless Services (DHS).
The report, which takes into account the health of individuals who spent at least one night at a DHS shelter during that time, showed how substance abuse and HIV/AIDS accounted for nearly one third off all deaths among homeless adults compared to only five percent among New York City adults overall.
“This report serves as a wake up call to the serious and specific health challenges of this vulnerable population, and underscores the importance of targeting our medical services to meet those needs,” said Deputy Mayor Linda I. Gibbs.
“Just because an individual is without a home should not mean their health problems have to go unnoticed or untreated,” said Acting Commissioner of Homeless Services Fran Winter.
In order to combat this alarming trend, the City came up with three immediate action steps that they will put into place this calendar year as well as five long-term recommendations.
First, the City will increase the medical screening and treatment options for shelter residents including increased HIV testing, increased identification and treatment of alcohol and drug use and more programs to help quit smoking.
In addition, the City also hopes to increase services for shelter residents ranging from access to shelter-based walking detoxification services to greater assistance for pregnant women, and it vows to monitor the progress of these initiatives through performance indicators.
Ultimately, the agencies see safe, affordable housing as the key to improving the quality of life for the homeless, but the report also highlighted a number of recommendations it hopes can work in conjunction with these initiatives. These include improving ways to treat diabetes, hypertension and high-cholesterol; prevent and reduce hospitalizations by improving outpatient treatment and improving rehab services.
“Progress requires working closely with our partners in community-based organizations and the health care community, particularly those providing direct services to homeless people,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden. “Working together, we can improve the health of homeless New Yorkers.”