Health Equity for the Homeless Population: A Review of the Health and Social Disparities Faced by the Homeless Population

Homelessness, a condition in which an individual lacks a fixed and suitable place to stay at night, is becoming an increasing cause for concern for the U.S. population. Trends predicting large increases in the number of elderly individuals and young children facing homelessness in the U.S. along with a similarly increasing trend of psychiatric illness and drug use amongst the homeless population make ensuring healthcare availability to these marginalized people a necessity. However, long-standing stigmatization and a lack of access to quality care have made receiving appropriate medical care increasingly difficult for these populations. The purpose of this review is to investigate the leading causes of the lack of health equity and social disparities amongst homeless populations and to propose potential solutions and programs to mitigate this public health and healthcare issue.