Homelessness Alliance Analysis
According to American Psychological Association (APA, 2010), individuals without homes often lack access to health care treatment. In fact, chronic health problems and inaccessibility to medical and dental care can increase school absences and limit employment opportunities. Homeless individuals have higher rates of hospitalizations for physical illnesses, mental illness, and substance abuse than other population.
The Canadian Mental Health Association reports that one-third of all homeless people live with mental illness (Echenberg & Jensen, 2012). In another study of the 300 adult users of Toronto homeless shelters, 67% reported a lifetime diagnosis of mental illness and 68% of individuals had a history of substance abuse or dependence. …show more content…
There is a relationship among mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness, but it cannot be clearly described. Mental illness and substance abuse often affect a person’s ability to perform self-care, problem solve, and secure employment or housing. They have even greater barriers to accessible housing than their counterparts: income deficits, stigma, and the need for community wraparound services. On the other hand, homeless individuals are prone to mental illness, alcohol addiction, and substance abuse (Enchenberg & Jensen, 2012). The rate of mental illness among people who are homeless in the United States are twice the rate of the general population (APA, 2010). 47% of homeless women meet the criteria for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder – twice the rate of women in general (APA, 2010). Therefore, there is a controversial argument whether substance abuse and mental illness contribute the greater to homeless or the naturally primary cause – the lack of low-income housing.
Poor physical health is associated with poverty in general but seems to be more pronounced among those who are without homes (APA, 2010). When compared with the general population, people without homes have poorer physical health, including higher rates of tuberculosis, hypertension, asthma, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and higher rates of medical hospitalization. For some cancer risk factors, prevalence rates are higher in homeless than in the general population, including sun exposure, cigarette smoking and alcoholism. In one study (Schanzer, Dominguez, Shrout, & Caton, 2007), homeless individuals made 20% to 30% of all adult emergency department visits. They are admitted to inpatient units 5 times more often and have average lengths of stay that are longer than those of non-homeless individuals. Homelessness is also associated with a shortened lifespan.
There are other risk factors for homeless, including disruptive events in youth, socioeconomic difficulty, prior imprisonment, marital breakdown and abusive relationship, and prior history of homelessness in the family.
Homeless Americans need a political voice in order to challenge the existence and consequences of homelessness (Stoner, 1995). Few efforts to politically organize homeless people have succeeded, however, because their lives mitigate against the organization and support necessary for political influence. For homeless people, the right to vote may be more important than for other groups because they have no financial resources that can translate into political power (Stoner, 1995).
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a leading voice on the issue of homelessness (NAEH, 2015).
The Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective policy solutions. The Alliance works collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity, leading to stronger programs and policies that help communities achieve their goal of ending homelessness. This group provide data and research to policymakers and elected officials in order to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide. There are four key areas that the Alliance works to end all homelessness: family, youth, veteran, and chronic …show more content…
homelessness.
The National Coalition for the Homeless is a national network of people who are currently experiencing of who have experienced homelessness, activists and advocates, community-based and faith-based service providers, and others committed to prevent and end homelessness while ensuring the immediate need of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights protected (NCH, 2015). The most notably program delivered by NCH is the Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau, which is comprised of extraordinary people who, from homeless activists to riveting poets, are committed to sharing their personal and powerful experiences of homelessness with others.
Nurses can advocate for the homeless population in many ways. According to Davis (2012), the homeless maintain poor health, are often frequent visitors to the emergency room, and are admitted to the hospital at a higher rate than the general population. Nurses in the acute care area can be advocates for this population by asking for patients to have a referral to a social worker who can assist them with housing options. Social workers can help support patients and families and can help set up houses for families. (Craig & Muskat, 2013). Nurses who believe that their patients can benefit from communicating with a social worker have the obligation to ask for a referral. A study done by Brown et al. (2015) showed that the formerly homeless who obtained housing were less likely to have emergency room visits and hospitalizations. The acute health needs of those who were formerly homeless were slightly improved.
Nurses can advocate for a change in perception of the homeless population in our profession. A barrier to providing quality patient care to the homeless population is the negative attitude some nurses hold towards them. A literature review done by Parkinson (2009) suggests that nurses who view the homeless in a poor light can result in a decrease in the quality of care given. This behavior can impact the amount of healthcare services that the homeless population seeks out. Providing information sessions and training on how to interact and care for the homeless to nurses and other healthcare providers can change their attitude toward the patient population. A study cited by Parkinson (2009) by Zrinyi & Balogh (2004) showed that nursing students who had been exposed to the population had a generally better attitude towards the homeless. As a result, the homeless population may feel more welcome and begin to routinely seek healthcare services.
Nurses can also be advocates for the homeless population by volunteering with community programs aimed at helping the homeless, donating to these programs, or promoting these programs to their patients. Many patients are unaware of the services that are available to them and are afraid to ask for help. In the Los Angeles area, the LAMP community offers medical and mental health care, emergency housing, and food for those who are homeless. (LAMP, n.d.) This program has volunteer programs that nurses and the general public can join and also has a link to donate if nurses do not have the time to commit to volunteering. Furthermore, there is a city program in Los Angeles called the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority that provides emergency transportation, shelter, and social services for the homeless. (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, n.d.) Nurses must be able to educate the homeless about the services that are available to them in the areas where they find themselves.
Homelessness is a serious problem that plagues the American society.
The access of health care to this vulnerable population has been known to be a major issue. The negative impact of homelessness on an individual’s physical health is well known and well documented. Studies have demonstrated that there are consistently higher rates of HIV, tuberculosis, hypertension, and respiratory illnesses in the homeless population (Zlotnick, Zerger, & Wolfe, 2013). Poverty and homelessness represent great obstacles towards health and well-being. Most homeless people lack health insurance (Zlotnick, Zerger, & Wolfe, 2013). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) should help fix this unbalance of access to care. The Affordable Care Act should help 30 million uninsured Americans have access to health care.
According to Persad (2015) many aspects of the ACA simply attempt to improve cost, quality, or access to healthcare for individuals across the nation. Under the ACA, Medicare and Medical will expand to cover individuals an even larger section of the population. The ACA is a great opportunity for the uninsured, such as the majority of the homeless population, to gain medical insurance. These health insurances will be funded at the federal and state level. There has been no better time in U.S. history for the uninsured to obtain health
insurance.
Nurses are fundamental to the success of the Affordable Care Act. The shortage of physicians is well documented and it will only become more severe with the ACA. It is estimated that the shortage of physicians in the U.S. will reach 52,000 under the ACA (Implications of the Affordable Care Act on Nursing Regulation and Practice, 2014). Many experts have recommended that physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses help relieve the shortage of health care providers. Some suggest that the scope of health care providers should be expanded to relieve physicians of many responsibilities. Empowering patients to care for themselves and helping them not get sick in the first place by providing preventive services are ways to combating the challenges of the Affordable Care Act.
Homeless individuals continue to struggle with obtaining healthcare services due to financial issues. Their living situations contribute to health problems and poor management of chronic diseases. Furthermore, it may be difficult for this population to maintain their medical regimen due to challenges with controlling diets, lab work, and medical interventions. Additionally, researchers have shown that the improvement in housing conditions will have an impact on these individuals’ health outcomes. Although some healthcare professionals have negative attitudes toward the homeless population, nurses continue to be active in improving homeless individuals’ health conditions (Anderson & Ytrehus, 2012).
The Canadian Mental Health Association reports that one-third of all homeless people live with mental illness (Echenberg & Jensen, 2012). In another study of the 300 adult users of Toronto homeless shelters, 67% reported a lifetime diagnosis of mental illness and 68% of individuals had a history of substance abuse or dependence. …show more content…
There is a relationship among mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness, but it cannot be clearly described. Mental illness and substance abuse often affect a person’s ability to perform self-care, problem solve, and secure employment or housing. They have even greater barriers to accessible housing than their counterparts: income deficits, stigma, and the need for community wraparound services. On the other hand, homeless individuals are prone to mental illness, alcohol addiction, and substance abuse (Enchenberg & Jensen, 2012). The rate of mental illness among people who are homeless in the United States are twice the rate of the general population (APA, 2010). 47% of homeless women meet the criteria for a diagnosis of major depressive disorder – twice the rate of women in general (APA, 2010). Therefore, there is a controversial argument whether substance abuse and mental illness contribute the greater to homeless or the naturally primary cause – the lack of low-income housing.
Poor physical health is associated with poverty in general but seems to be more pronounced among those who are without homes (APA, 2010). When compared with the general population, people without homes have poorer physical health, including higher rates of tuberculosis, hypertension, asthma, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and higher rates of medical hospitalization. For some cancer risk factors, prevalence rates are higher in homeless than in the general population, including sun exposure, cigarette smoking and alcoholism. In one study (Schanzer, Dominguez, Shrout, & Caton, 2007), homeless individuals made 20% to 30% of all adult emergency department visits. They are admitted to inpatient units 5 times more often and have average lengths of stay that are longer than those of non-homeless individuals. Homelessness is also associated with a shortened lifespan.
There are other risk factors for homeless, including disruptive events in youth, socioeconomic difficulty, prior imprisonment, marital breakdown and abusive relationship, and prior history of homelessness in the family.
Homeless Americans need a political voice in order to challenge the existence and consequences of homelessness (Stoner, 1995). Few efforts to politically organize homeless people have succeeded, however, because their lives mitigate against the organization and support necessary for political influence. For homeless people, the right to vote may be more important than for other groups because they have no financial resources that can translate into political power (Stoner, 1995).
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a leading voice on the issue of homelessness (NAEH, 2015).
The Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective policy solutions. The Alliance works collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity, leading to stronger programs and policies that help communities achieve their goal of ending homelessness. This group provide data and research to policymakers and elected officials in order to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide. There are four key areas that the Alliance works to end all homelessness: family, youth, veteran, and chronic …show more content…
homelessness.
The National Coalition for the Homeless is a national network of people who are currently experiencing of who have experienced homelessness, activists and advocates, community-based and faith-based service providers, and others committed to prevent and end homelessness while ensuring the immediate need of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights protected (NCH, 2015). The most notably program delivered by NCH is the Faces of Homelessness Speakers’ Bureau, which is comprised of extraordinary people who, from homeless activists to riveting poets, are committed to sharing their personal and powerful experiences of homelessness with others.
Nurses can advocate for the homeless population in many ways. According to Davis (2012), the homeless maintain poor health, are often frequent visitors to the emergency room, and are admitted to the hospital at a higher rate than the general population. Nurses in the acute care area can be advocates for this population by asking for patients to have a referral to a social worker who can assist them with housing options. Social workers can help support patients and families and can help set up houses for families. (Craig & Muskat, 2013). Nurses who believe that their patients can benefit from communicating with a social worker have the obligation to ask for a referral. A study done by Brown et al. (2015) showed that the formerly homeless who obtained housing were less likely to have emergency room visits and hospitalizations. The acute health needs of those who were formerly homeless were slightly improved.
Nurses can advocate for a change in perception of the homeless population in our profession. A barrier to providing quality patient care to the homeless population is the negative attitude some nurses hold towards them. A literature review done by Parkinson (2009) suggests that nurses who view the homeless in a poor light can result in a decrease in the quality of care given. This behavior can impact the amount of healthcare services that the homeless population seeks out. Providing information sessions and training on how to interact and care for the homeless to nurses and other healthcare providers can change their attitude toward the patient population. A study cited by Parkinson (2009) by Zrinyi & Balogh (2004) showed that nursing students who had been exposed to the population had a generally better attitude towards the homeless. As a result, the homeless population may feel more welcome and begin to routinely seek healthcare services.
Nurses can also be advocates for the homeless population by volunteering with community programs aimed at helping the homeless, donating to these programs, or promoting these programs to their patients. Many patients are unaware of the services that are available to them and are afraid to ask for help. In the Los Angeles area, the LAMP community offers medical and mental health care, emergency housing, and food for those who are homeless. (LAMP, n.d.) This program has volunteer programs that nurses and the general public can join and also has a link to donate if nurses do not have the time to commit to volunteering. Furthermore, there is a city program in Los Angeles called the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority that provides emergency transportation, shelter, and social services for the homeless. (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, n.d.) Nurses must be able to educate the homeless about the services that are available to them in the areas where they find themselves.
Homelessness is a serious problem that plagues the American society.
The access of health care to this vulnerable population has been known to be a major issue. The negative impact of homelessness on an individual’s physical health is well known and well documented. Studies have demonstrated that there are consistently higher rates of HIV, tuberculosis, hypertension, and respiratory illnesses in the homeless population (Zlotnick, Zerger, & Wolfe, 2013). Poverty and homelessness represent great obstacles towards health and well-being. Most homeless people lack health insurance (Zlotnick, Zerger, & Wolfe, 2013). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) should help fix this unbalance of access to care. The Affordable Care Act should help 30 million uninsured Americans have access to health care.
According to Persad (2015) many aspects of the ACA simply attempt to improve cost, quality, or access to healthcare for individuals across the nation. Under the ACA, Medicare and Medical will expand to cover individuals an even larger section of the population. The ACA is a great opportunity for the uninsured, such as the majority of the homeless population, to gain medical insurance. These health insurances will be funded at the federal and state level. There has been no better time in U.S. history for the uninsured to obtain health
insurance.
Nurses are fundamental to the success of the Affordable Care Act. The shortage of physicians is well documented and it will only become more severe with the ACA. It is estimated that the shortage of physicians in the U.S. will reach 52,000 under the ACA (Implications of the Affordable Care Act on Nursing Regulation and Practice, 2014). Many experts have recommended that physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses help relieve the shortage of health care providers. Some suggest that the scope of health care providers should be expanded to relieve physicians of many responsibilities. Empowering patients to care for themselves and helping them not get sick in the first place by providing preventive services are ways to combating the challenges of the Affordable Care Act.
Homeless individuals continue to struggle with obtaining healthcare services due to financial issues. Their living situations contribute to health problems and poor management of chronic diseases. Furthermore, it may be difficult for this population to maintain their medical regimen due to challenges with controlling diets, lab work, and medical interventions. Additionally, researchers have shown that the improvement in housing conditions will have an impact on these individuals’ health outcomes. Although some healthcare professionals have negative attitudes toward the homeless population, nurses continue to be active in improving homeless individuals’ health conditions (Anderson & Ytrehus, 2012).