November Newsletter 
Homeless Awareness Week November 1  7, 2009 
The homeless and their health care is always an important issue, but maybe more so as the weather turns colder and flu season strikes. Those without shelter risk hypothermia and frostbite. Those who find temporary shelter risk catching and spreading seasonal flu, 2009 H1N1 and tuberculosis. Practicing good hygiene by washing hands frequently or receiving flu shots are some of the best ways to prevent illness in a shelter. 
To hear more about issues that affect the homeless, listen to the November edition of the Georgia Wellcast and learn about Homeless Awareness Week. Click on the Wellcast icon to the right. 
No Home Often Means No Health Care 
Homelessness is a complex issue. It affects many different people from very different backgrounds. It targets individuals as well as families. It forces some to seek transitional shelters, while others live unsheltered. Homelessness is a temporary situation for many, but for others it is their way of life. 
A huge concern for the homeless population is access to health care. The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) reports that many homeless people do not receive the health care they need due to not knowing where to turn, no transportation or even a lack of identification. Of course cost is one of the biggest reasons the homeless avoid medical care. Those who do seek medical attention often rely on hospital emergency rooms for care. Emergency rooms provide little continuity in care and are more expensive for treatment than public health clinics. 
 
 Illnesses frequently seen among the homeless population include heart disease, cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, skin infections, HIV/AIDS, pneumonia and tuberculosis. With 2009 H1N1 spreading, and seasonal flu just around the corner, homeless people with an underlying health condition will have more difficulty fighting or possibly even surviving either flu. As additional supplies of the 2009 H1N1 vaccination are made available, they will be offered at public health clinics at no charge to those unable to pay. 
A broad overview of health issues in the homeless population comes from the NCH. They cite that domestic violence is the primary reason many women end up homeless. Close to 26% of the sheltered homeless population suffers from some type of severe mental illness. The rates of alcohol and drug abuse are disproportionally high among the homeless, but addiction does not necessarily lead to homeless. Single adult males are more likely to be homeless than females, and it is this group of single men that make up the majority of the overall homeless population. The average life expectancy in the homeless population is estimated between 42 and 52 years, compared to 78 years in the general population. 
To learn how the Georgia Department of Community Health is working to address the health care needs of the homeless, visit dch.georgia.gov or log onto the Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness at gahomeless.org.