Around the World, Unmet Social Needs Shape Health Outcomes

By Munira Z. Gunja?

Research shows that social drivers of health, including secure housing, can account for up to 50 percent of health outcomes. People with unmet social needs are more likely to require intensive and expensive medical interventions, visit emergency rooms, and experience steep financial barriers to care. In fact, across countries, our research shows adults with lower or average incomes are more likely than their counterparts with higher incomes to have at least one unmet social need.?

To see more on how experiencing homelessness can lead to poorer health outcomes, stay tuned for our next issue of International Insights on Monday, February 12, which will explore how Finland was able to reduce its homelessness rate roughly 82 percent, and what the United States can learn.?