PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: Evaluating the Evidence for Improving Health Outcomes among People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness

Being homeless negatively impacts health in diverse ways, especially for those experiencing chronic homelessness.1 Such persons are at higher risk for multiple infectious diseases, traumatic injuries, interpersonal violence, conditions related to extreme heat or cold, and death due to alcoholism and drug overdoses. They are more likely than housed persons to use hospital emergency departments for health care and to be admitted to the hospital for health problems, because they are less likely to have health insurance and because their conditions cannot be appropriately cared for without safe and secure housing. Thus, there are compelling reasons to know whether interventions aimed at reducing homelessness also reduce the adverse health consequences associated with it.

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