Whether a person experiences homelessness on the streets or navigates life inside a homeless shelter, their need for stable housing is critical. A new California Policy Lab study examines differences in the health staus and experiences of people living on the streets or in shelters.
The findings reinforce what we know about housing as a social determinant of health and the challenges faced by unsheltered people, who are far likelier to have chronic health conditions, mental health issues, trauma, and substance use issues than people in shelters.