Homelessness- A Growing Phenomena and a Public Health Concern

Homelessness is growing. The increase in homelessness is occurring because of several reasons: inflation and rise in housing prices, increase in mental health issues, and racial and gender discrimination and oppression. Even in Alabama, I have seen more people on the street than in the past seven years.? I lived in D.C. for three years, one of the cities with a high population of homelessness. I didn’t think that I would see women on the street in Tuscaloosa.?

Many homeless people struggle with drug addictions. People who work in trades are educated and willing to work, but being on the street makes it difficult to find jobs.?

I wanted to write a publication about homelessness myself for several reasons. One, having lost a job before, I was terrified of being homeless myself on the street. I felt powerless, and it took time to find employment. But I overcame it. Our society has been adamant about getting rid of its embarrassment by penalizing the homeless community for being seen. But hiding the homeless condition does not absolve us from the problem. Homelessness has a negative public health impact on our communities regardless of whether they are seen or not. Additionally, these parameters will increase with the shifting of our environment due to climate change.

The communities are either “sheltered homeless” or “unsheltered homeless” Anderson 2021. Sheltered homeless people live in community shelters, or they couch surf at someone’s residence. Non-sheltered homeless people live outside, whether it is in tents, under bridges, in public bathrooms, or on the sidewalk. The unsheltered homeless community is more exposed to the elements and the general public. This exposure affects them and the public.

Climate change has caused an increase in heat waves, droughts, infectious diseases, and even air pollution. Asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema in homeless communities have increased tremendously with minimum ways of controlling it. Ramin 2009. These parameters directly impact unsheltered people. Homeless people have one of the highest rates of asthma and other diseases, including a higher risk of death.

Unsheltered people can also expose us to environmental health hazards. With the increase of diseases (many airborne), they can spread to people nearby. A municipality moving them away from the public eye does not alleviate the exposure. Sanitation is one of the significant ways the public is exposed to pollution by unsheltered people. Public restrooms allow homeless people to use the restroom, wash up, etc. However, public restrooms are mostly closed during nighttime or early morning. In some scenarios, one can’t use the restroom unless they are buying something out of the store. Additionally, there are rules in some cities forbidding homeless people from using their facilities. Because of the lack of access to public restrooms and shower facilities, many homeless individuals use public spaces, such as rivers, for basic hygiene needs Leibler 2017.?

The homelessness crisis is a multifaceted issue exacerbated by inflation, rising housing costs, mental health challenges, and systemic racial and gender discrimination. Ignoring this issue is problematic. As a society, we have lost our hearts for people who face difficulties, not realizing that misfortune can happen to any of us. Additionally, removing unsheltered people doesn’t alleviate us from the impacts. The health risks associated with homelessness, particularly for the unsheltered, are compounded by climate change, which increases exposure to extreme weather and infectious diseases.? Furthermore, communities must recognize that homelessness impacts public health broadly, with unsheltered individuals facing higher rates of chronic illnesses and contributing to environmental health hazards.

Addressing homelessness requires a comprehensive approach beyond punitive measures and aims to provide sustainable solutions such as workforce development, enhanced mental health services, and affordable housing. Therefore, effective solutions must prioritize the well-being of homeless individuals and the broader public by ensuring access to housing, healthcare, and economic development. This holistic approach is essential for mitigating the adverse effects of homelessness and fostering healthier, more resilient communities.