Homeless

RUNNING HEAD: HOMELESS

Homeless

Aug. 08, 2014

HOMELESS

Homeless

Introduction

Long Island New York is thought of as an affluent area where beaches provide the backdrop to good, healthy living. Many are fortunate enough to make a home here and they survive the hard economic times and do quite well. However, Long island is falling short for an ever-growing population and many are finding themselves homeless, with no permanent place to live. The United States Department of Housing and urban Development (HUD) includes individuals who use places, public or private, that are not usual sleeping accommodations.  Bus stations, woods, abandoned buildings and vehicles all are included in the non-stable or non-permanent situations that many find themselves in. Many wind up in temporary housing or shelters (Nassau Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless (nsch, n d).  Veterans are an aggregate within the homeless population for approximately 12% of all homeless adults (nchv.org, n d).

        Many types of people can fall victim to homelessness. HUD reports that adults have a one in 201 chance of becoming homeless (Weber, Thompson, Schmiege, Peifer & Farrel, 2013).  Veterans have the highest risk of falling victim to homelessness. African Americans have the largest percentage followed by Whites, then Hispanics (Weber, et al, 2013).

        The homeless on Long Island can be difficult to track. HUD reported that approximately twenty-five hundred people were homeless in 2009. The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless gathers volunteers to assist the task of attempting to count the correct amount of homeless individuals. This task is made harder due to the many hidden homeless who live in the woods or

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on the streets.  Many suffer from mental illness and drug addiction. The count for 2013, which was obtained in January, reported that there were 2,428 persons living in emergency shelters and  

578 people living in transitional shelters. They were able to find 117 who were living unsheltered (nsch, n d).

        How does such an affluent area have so many homeless persons? The growing shortage of affordable housing and the increase in poverty levels may be the first place to look. On Long Island wage earnings have decreased five percent and 22 of all Long Islanders live in poverty (Vitalsigns, 2009).

There are many risks that can lead to homelessness. Adversity during childhood and poor family functioning has been identified as indicators to homelessness. Mental health problems along with drug or alcohol addiction also appear to be communality with homelessness. Becoming socioeconomically disadvantaged is also a top factor in the increased chance of becoming homeless (Shelton, Taylor & VanderBree, 2009).

        Long Island is currently experiencing a housing burden with more and more people reporting that they spend 30% or more of their total income on housing costs. Mortgage foreclosure rates are increasing and are reported as 71%  in Suffolk County. Food stamp enrollment is also on the rise with a 54% increase during 2009. Drug abuse rose 25% and not surprisingly, the suicide rate is higher in Suffolk County more than anywhere else in New York Sate (Vitalsigns, 2009).

Health Issues

        The homeless face many health disparities. They are at an increased risk of substance

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abuse and mental health disorders (Homeless fact sheet, 2011). There are an estimated 22 million people who suffer from drug or alcohol abuse and many find themselves on the streets. They face many health problems associated with their abuse, such as increased exposure to HIV/AIDS, communicable diseases like Tuberculosis, and nutritional deficiencies. They also face an increased risk of being involved in crime and have a higher suicide rate (cdc.gov, 2012). They face exposure to the natural elements, disease, violence, malnutrition and unsanitary conditions. Many veterans find themselves in both the situation of experiencing substance abuse and subsequent homelessness. Healthy People 2020 reported that an estimated one million people are homeless in the United Sates and seven percent of them are veterans (HP2020, n d.).

        An estimated 55% of homeless people report some kind of health problem, many of a chronic nature. They lack access to primary doctors and use the local emergency rooms for care even when issues are not emergent (Savage, Lindsell, Gillepsiep, Dempsey, Lee & Corbin, 2006). The lack of preventative care forces the homeless to use high cost emergency departments. When forced to choose between daily survival care over preventative health care, most choose survival care. Homelessness creates new health conditions while exacerbating existing ones. Many common, treatable conditions go unchecked and develop into worsening conditions. Wounds, non-healing ulcers and even cancers go untreated. The homeless face another health disparity with access to care, their social health or ability to carry out the normal tasks of daily living is greatly compromised (Vitalsigns, 2009). The homeless find themselves unable to pay out of pocket for individual services or health insurance. This lack of insurance leads to poorer health and cause minor conditions to become worse. Being homeless without adequate nutrition and income, and the use of drugs or alcohol all form a viscous cycle. It is

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difficult to maintain adequate nutrition with limited or no income (Green, James, Latter, Sutcliff

& Fader, 2013). Soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters may offer meals but they are low quality and high in salt, sugar and starches.

Access to health care is important to overall improvement and maintenance of good health. The best outcomes occur with timely access to services. They face disadvantages with some of the crucial steps required to achieve the basic need of good health. Gaining entry into a health system is problematic due to transportation and cost issues. It may be difficult to find locations where their needs can be addressed (HP2020, n.d.). With rising costs, the homeless find themselves unable to meet their basic needs and often delay car until forced to address a problem that may have been easy to treat. Early treatment can assist in detection of treatable conditions before they become deadly. The lack of care leads to the decrease in the quality of normal life and lowers their life expectancy (Coles, Themessl-Huber & freeman, 2012).