Homelessness in the U.S has surged by 18% from 2023 to 2024, an alarming increase that demands deeper examination beyond statistics. Housing insecurity and healthcare are deeply intertwined, creating a vicious cycle where poor health makes it harder to escape homelessness, while homelessness itself worsens health conditions.
A person’s health can rapidly deteriorate without a stable place to live. Exposure to extreme weather, chronic stress, malnutrition, and sleeping in unconventional places all take a toll physically and mentally. A single medical or mental health need can lead to job loss, unpaid bills, eviction, and worsening health conditions, further reducing a person’s ability to work. What might start as a manageable health issue can quickly escalate to a crisis, leading to frequent ER visits and an inability to recover due to unstable living conditions.
These are not just hypothetical scenarios. For many people in Guilford County, this is their daily reality. One neighbor who has lived experience of homelessness shared with PEH how repeated exposure to cold temperatures turned a minor sinus infection into a month-long battle with pneumonia, worsening their preexisting asthma and COPD symptoms. This community member also noted the consistent stress and its impact on their memory and overall cognitive function. Additionally, Partners Ending Homelessness has noted a growing number of Guilford County residents who are pregnant or newly postpartum being discharged without stable housing. These are not just stories. These are real people. Our neighbors.
The barriers to healthcare for people experiencing homelessness go beyond symptoms and treatment. Many have a deep mistrust of medical professionals due to past experiences with stereotyping and discrimination. Lack of reliable transportation can make it difficult to attend appointments, while the lack of a secure place to store medication further impacts their condition. Many also struggle with navigating the complex healthcare system without support and note the mental load that this adds to an already stressful situation. These challenges create significant gaps in access to care and many opportunities to improve.
To address the vital intersection of healthcare and homelessness within Guilford County, Cone Health Foundation and The Foundation for a Healthy High Point have invested in Partners Ending Homelessness to create a Healthcare Services Liaison position. This position is part of a pilot program designed to begin assessing and addressing the gaps and barriers those experiencing homelessness face when accessing healthcare services.
Goals for this position include:
Creating and maintaining a Healthcare and Homelessness Committee that is aimed at fostering collaboration between healthcare providers and community services.
Developing a comprehensive healthcare resource kit to give to individuals experiencing homelessness.
Creating a toolkit to assist medical and mental health providers navigate the homelessness system more effectively.
Hosting educational events for both the public and the medical/mental health community to deepen their understanding of homelessness in Guilford County.
Homelessness is neither a personal failing nor an unrelatable dilemma. It is a systemic issue that could alter anyone’s life with a singular event. Addressing this issue requires coordinated, community-driven solutions. Many organizations are already taking steps to help mitigate certain barriers and gaps, and bringing those groups together to share their work can help our community even more. By strengthening connections between various healthcare providers and agencies, we can begin to move towards a county in which every member has equitable access to the care they need, regardless of housing status.
At Partners Ending Homelessness, we are committed to shifting the narrative and lifting the stigma and believe that real change starts by listening to those with lived experience. Their voices are the foundation for our goals, initiatives, and solutions. Through this pilot program, we aim to build a Guilford County where healthcare is accessible, homelessness is not a barrier to wellbeing, and every neighbor has the support they need to thrive.
Sousa, Tanya de, and Meghan Henry. 2024. “The 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.” https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2024-AHAR-Part-1.pdf.