N10 Final - Homelessness

Homelessness
- 3-6 times higher rate of physical illness
- Twice as likely to suffer mental illness
- Greater difficulty gaining access to healthcare
- Exposed to nature’s elements and society’s violence
- Increased risk for illness or injury
- Fastest growing segment is women and children >40%
- Homeless families are usually headed by single-female-parent with up to 3 preschool age children

Nurses Role in shelter or transitional housing
Immunizations
Referral for healthcare
Health Teaching
Assessing
Screening

Residential Care
Homeless shelter
Transitional housing
Battered women’s shelter
Chemical dependency Tx centers
Group homes
Halfway houses Detox units
Hospices

Demographics of Health Center Patients
Income
65% - At or less than 100% of poverty level
21% - 101%-200% of poverty level
14% - > than 200% of poverty level
Race/ethnicity
35% - White
32% - Hispanic
25% - Black
8% - Other/unknown
Insurance status
40% - Medicare/other public insurance
33% - Medicaid (Medi-Cal)
16% - Private insurance
11% - Uninsured