33. Poverty and Homeless Flashcards
What groups are becoming more common in poverty
- single mothers, women, and children
- minorities
- elderly (veterans)
What is the cycle between poverty and health
poorer health status decrease someone’s ability to work
What are minority women at increased risk of?
- DM/HTN
- obesity
- asthma
- HIV/AIDS
- STIs
What are children in poverty at risk for?
- lack of adequate nutrition and brain development
- maternal substance abuse or depression
- exposure to environmental toxins
- trauma and abuse
- lower quality daily care
Elderly in poverty has a high prevalence rate for what?
- chronic illness/complications
- disability
- food insecurity
Elderly in poverty are less likely to do what?
access resources and seek preventative care
3 categories of homelessness
- chronic (usually older w/ some disability or substance abuse; use emergency shelters as routine housing - becomes a way of life)
- transitional (majority of homeless; use emergency shelter for short period of time until they get back on their feet)
- episodic (usually younger with mental health or substance abuse problems; come and go)
factors leading to homelessness
- chronic unemployment
- disability
- substance abuse problems
number of persons who are homes on a given day or during a given week
point-in-time counts
number of people who are homeless over a given time period
period prevalence counts
T/F: both methods of counting homeless populations typically undercount
True
people not usually counted in the homeless population
- groups of people living in a hotel/motel for monthly fee
- people who are couch surfing
2 groups of children who are homeless
- children who are part of a homeless family
- children who are unaccompanied (ran away from home)
What does being homeless as a child lead to?
adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
What types of health issues can being homeless cause
- mental health
- alcohol abuse
- tobacco abuse
- infectious diseases (STI/HIV)
- exposure to elements
What are homeless woman at a great increased risk of?
being sexually assaulted
provided small inadequate funding for outpatient services and created the ICH
Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987
coordinates federal homeless activities and includes 19 agencies
Interagency Council on Homeless (ICH)
Strategies for preventing homelessness
- assist to eliminate factors that lead to homelessness
- alleviate existing homelessness (making referrals for financial assistance, food supplements, and health services)
- prevent reoccurrence
4 ways for homeless to access health care
- health care for the homeless (HCH)
- safety net hospitals
- medicaid, medicare, and children’s health insurance program
- affordable care act (health insurance)
