Unsheltered Homelessness and Health: A Literature Review

Richards, Jessica; Kuhn, Randall

doi:10.1016/j.focus.2022.100043

Cited by 22 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 64 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…homelessness [35,36]. In addition, intervention studies using rigorous experimental designs are needed to build the evidence base for interventions to address the multiple pathways between housing and health.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

The intersection of health and housing: Analysis of the research portfolios of the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Walton,

Skillen,

Mosites

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Housing is a major social determinant of health that affects health status and outcomes across the lifespan. Objectives An interagency portfolio analysis assessed the level of funding invested in “health and housing research” from fiscal years (FY) 2016–2020 across the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to characterize the existing health and housing portfolio and identify potential areas for additional research and collaboration. Methods/Results We identified NIH, HUD, and CDC research projects that were relevant to both health and housing and characterized them by housing theme, health topic, population, and study design. We organized the assessment of the individual housing themes by four overarching housing-to-health pathways. From FY 2016–2020, NIH, HUD, and CDC funded 565 health and housing projects combined. The Neighborhood pathway was most common, followed by studies of the Safety and Quality pathway. Studies of the Affordability and Stability pathways were least common. Health topics such as substance use, mental health, and cardiovascular disease were most often studied. Most studies were observational (66%); only a little over one fourth (27%) were intervention studies. Discussion This review of the research grant portfolios of three major federal funders of health and housing research in the United States describes the diversity and substantial investment in research at the intersection between housing and health. Analysis of the combined portfolio points to gaps in studies on causal pathways linking housing to health outcomes. The findings highlight the need for research to better understand the causal pathways from housing to health and prevention intervention research, including rigorous evaluation of housing interventions and policies to improve health and well-being.

show abstract

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

The intersection of health and housing: Analysis of the research portfolios of the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Walton,

Skillen,

Mosites

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…On the other, according to Wakin's participants, vehicle residency was "better than a tent" (Wakin, 2014). Wakin (2014) reports that participants described their vehicle as preferable to a shelter, especially since they do not identify as homeless despite legal definitions considering this population as "unsheltered homelessness" (Richards & Kuhn, 2023). Participants actively differentiated themselves from the homeless.…”

Section: Vehicle Residencymentioning

confidence: 99%

What happens next? The ever-dreaded “knock” and mobile access instability for vehicle residents

Montague

2023

Mobile Media & Communication

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This high-exposure study explores information-seeking via mobile phone usage among a specific unstably housed population. There exists a population referred to as “vehicle residents” who are people earning wages, who have chosen to move into their vehicles as a survival strategy during a time when housing expenses account for more than half of lower-income Americans’ monthly income, and whose situation varies from traditional homelessness in that they sustain some stability in maintaining ownership of the vehicle in which they are residing. Building on previous studies of homeless people and their mobile phone usage, while using mobilism as the frame, this study investigates the ways that access instability, an underexamined facet of digital inequality, impacts vehicle residents’ ability to search for information via their mobile phones to support their daily lives. This study is based on two rounds of semi-structured interviews with the same participants, complemented by a virtual guided tour of participant's vehicles. Among the key findings is that mobility creates and resolves access instability for vehicle residents, introducing the concept of mobile access instability. Overall, understanding the unique features and information needs of this particular group results in a more thorough comprehension of the contemporary housing crisis, which is necessary to improve policy by developing mitigation strategies and resolutions.

show abstract

“…Third, improper shelter and shade structures subject the unhoused homeless to direct solar radiation for the entire extremely hot summer conditions (Karanja et al, 2023;Saverino et al, 2021). Fourth, access to basic services such as healthcare, insurance, and climate-controlled shelters is limited (Gabbe et al, 2022;English et al, 2022;Pendrey et al, 2014;Richards and Kuhn, 2023;Shaw, 2004). Fifth, the unsheltered population is aging characterized by chronic medical conditions, further increasing their sensitivity to heat risk (Bagget et al, 2013;Brown et al, 2017;Garcia et al, 2024).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Tent Shade on Heat Exposures and Simulated Heat Strain for People Experiencing Homelessness

Karanja,

Vanos,

Joshi

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Concurrent increases in homelessness and heat intensity, duration, and frequency translate to an urban heat risk trap for the unsheltered population. Homelessness is both a driver and consequence of poor health, co-creating distinct geographies with various risk factors that exacerbate heat vulnerability. We tested the efficacy of different tent shadings over identical tents often observed in the Phoenix area (white bedsheet, mylar, tarp, and aluminum foil) and compared them to a control tent (uncovered) and ambient conditions. We monitored all meteorological variables at all six locations, notably Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT). The in-tent microclimate variability was applied to complete statistical and physiological modeling including the use of behavioral or recreational drugs on heat strain. Findings indicate that tent shadings resulted in significantly lower in-tent MRT during the day (p < 0.05), but exacerbated in-tent thermal risk during the night compared to the control tent and ambient conditions. Furthermore, we found evidence that the temperature metric matters, and using only either MRT or air temperature (Tair) to assess “heat” could lead to inconsistent conclusions about in-tent microclimate. Interactions between shade types and time significantly amplified in-tent thermal risk. Physiological modeling indicates a higher risk of heat strain (core temperature beyond 40˚C) for those taking certain drugs. Decision makers should promote testing different heat intervening strategies toward realizing effective means of protecting human life and preventing heat illnesses. This study illuminates the need for an interdisciplinary approach to studying tents as shelters that considers the total heat load with heat strain modeling.

show abstract

Unsheltered Homelessness and Health: A Literature Review

Cited by 22 publications

References 64 publications

The intersection of health and housing: Analysis of the research portfolios of the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The intersection of health and housing: Analysis of the research portfolios of the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

What happens next? The ever-dreaded “knock” and mobile access instability for vehicle residents

Impact of Tent Shade on Heat Exposures and Simulated Heat Strain for People Experiencing Homelessness

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About