Introduction
Conversations around homelessness were renewed last month when the Supreme Court upheld a ban in Grants Pass, Oregon, which restricted encampments on public property. This ordinance only directly affects the estimated 600 people estimated to experience homelessness in Grants Pass. However, it has already affected Governor Newsom’s policies in California, where homeless encampments are being removed. And it is likely to affect the estimated 256,610 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness across the country, as well.
Since the pandemic, this crisis has only grown worse. Last year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated that on a single night, around 653,100 people were experiencing homelessness across the country, an increase of 12% from 2022. The number of people experiencing chronic homelessness, meaning that someone has been homeless for the past year whilst “struggling with a disabling condition such as a serious mental illness, substance use disorder, or physical disability,” is around 143,000, the highest it has been this century. Considering that poor health can both create and also prolong homelessness, the problems it poses could be exponential.
The Effect on Health and Access to Housing
The impacts of homelessness are not only on substance use and one’s mental health, but also physical health. Homelessness increases the risk of infectious diseases, like tuberculosis, and chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes. During the Covid-19 pandemic, congregate homeless shelters were subject to outbreaks. These factors create vast differences in life expectancy between those with housing and those without. As Dr. Donna Persaud pointed out in our conversation, there is a greater than 20-year life expectancy difference between the most affluent zip code in Dallas, and the worst off.
In her dissenting opinion, Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor acknowledges that, “given the complex web of causes, it is unsurprising that the burdens of homelessness fall disproportionately on the most vulnerable in our society”. Despite African-Americans making up 12.1% of the U.S. population, they make up 37% of those without housing. For Latinos, who make up 18.9% of the U.S. population, they make up 24%. This crisis creates an erosion of opportunity, particularly for minorities. Without access to care, or treatments, like insulin, they do not have an equal chance to strive.
Conclusion
If you would like to learn more, please check out our podcast episode with Dr. Persaud here. For additional resources, please visit the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and for the effects that homelessness can have on substance use, mental, and physical health, please visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.