Donley, A. M., & Wright, J. D. (2018). The health of the homeless. Sociology Compass, 12(1). Web.
The health issues that homeless people encounter are thoroughly examined in this study by Donley and Wright. The authors employ sociological methods to show how homeless people are more prone to a wide range of health problems, such as physical illnesses, mental disorders, and infectious infections. This material is essential because it emphasizes the seriousness and complexity of the health problems facing the homeless community. Furthermore, Donley and Wright explore the social determinants of health, explaining how elements like poverty, illiteracy, and social exclusion heighten the health hazards that homeless people confront. They contend that these health issues are not special episodes but rather are symptoms of systemic injustices that call for all-encompassing, multifaceted solutions.
Henwood, B. F., Lahey, J., Rhoades, H., Winetrobe, H., & Wenzel, S. L. (2018). Examining the health status of homeless adults entering permanent supportive housing. Journal of Public Health, 40(2), 415-418. Web.
The beneficial effects of permanent supportive housing on the health outcomes of homeless people are supported by empirical data provided by Henwood et al. The authors demonstrate that both physical and mental health status significantly improves after moving into supportive housing. This study supports the idea that housing is a health concern as well as a social one and suggests some potential remedies. The authors go on to say that supportive housing goes beyond simply giving homeless individuals a place to stay by providing a setting where they may regularly access healthcare services, counseling, and assistance with daily living skills. The study by Henwood et al. is significant because it shows how supportive housing may help people without homes by improving their quality of life and promoting their reintegration into society.
Ramsay, N., Hossain, R., Moore, M., Milo, M., & Brown, A. (2019). Health care while homeless: barriers, facilitators, and the lived experiences of homeless individuals accessing health care in a Canadian regional municipality. Qualitative Health Research, 29(13), 1839-1849. Web.
The study by Ramsay et al. offers a thorough overview of the healthcare encounters of homeless people. The authors examine the impediments and enablers to getting access to health care, emphasizing how housing may be a critical factor in improving that accessibility. The lived experiences discussed in this study provide a nuanced perspective on the systemic problems that connect homelessness and health. Ramsay et al. also describe the difficulties that homeless people encounter when utilizing healthcare facilities, including lack of transportation, stigmatization, and a lack of resources. They contend that housing may act as a solid base from which people can more easily access and make use of health services, eventually leading to better health outcomes.
The decision to investigate the subject of “Housing the Homeless as a Health Issue” resulted from a synthesis of academic interest and a sincere desire to learn more about critical societal issues. This issue, which spans the fields of sociology, urban studies, and public health, is intriguing because of its complexity and ability to prompt a critical analysis of current socioeconomic systems and public policies. Homelessness is inextricably associated with a wide range of social and health problems; it goes beyond just not having a place to live. The severe realities of living without a safe and stable home make homeless people disproportionately vulnerable to different health issues. Homelessness is a public health emergency. Thus, society and the government must act quickly to address it.
The focus on housing as a potential solution to alleviate the health issues connected to homelessness makes this topic appealing as well. It challenges the conventional view of housing as solely a type of material support and reframes it as an essential health requirement. This viewpoint calls for a paradigm change in how we see homelessness, highlighting the demand for comprehensive and systemic solutions.