Homelessness and Health: Lessons from Health Care, Public Health, and Research

HPM 523 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Timely action and critical reflection in the areas of poverty, health inequities, and homelessness are necessary. With half to three-quarters of a million people experiencing homelessness on any given night and approximately 1.4 million people relying on emergency shelters over the course of year, homelessness continues to be a significant problem in the United States (U.S.). Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and social uprisings against injustices compel public health providers and researchers to better understand and address the vulnerabilities of people experiencing homelessness. While homelessness in the U.S. is a complex issue intersecting the fields of health care, public health, and policy, this course will lead students through an introduction. We examine pathways to homelessness, disproportionately affected communities, and unique health care needs including COVID-19. The history of Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) programs and examples of other programs are discussed. Strategies for incorporating trauma-informed care into practice are identified. We discuss the fundamentals of research in homelessness and health, including innovative programs. Clinicians, people with lived experience, and researchers share their perspectives. We employ active learning and solution-oriented approaches to challenging and persistent issues.