Homelessness

Abstract

Nearly 568,000 people are homeless (living in homeless shelters, on the streets, or in other places not meant for human habitation) on any given night in the US. The majority of people who experience homelessness do so for limited periods of time, though some people experience chronic homelessness. Homelessness has profoundly negative health effects and is associated with premature mortality. Research across settings has found that homelessness is common among emergency department (ED) patients. Homelessness is therefore an important consideration in the management of ED patients. This chapter provides guidance for emergency providers (EPs) on assessing and responding to patients' homelessness in the ED and beyond.