Homelessness zine

ISSUE N°1

SOCIAL DETERMINATS OF HEALTH MONTLY

HOMELESSNESS & HEALTH

FIGURE 1

CONTENTS SOCIAL DETERMINANST OF HEALTH?

HOMELESSNESS & MENTAL /PHYSICAL HEALTH FIGURE 2

POLICY & ADVOCACY

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

FIGURE 3

FIGURE 4

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH EXPLAINED THE TERM SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH WAS CREATED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IN ORDER TO DEPICT HOW THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY, AS WELL AS COMPLEX SOCIAL NORMS AND INSTITUTIONS ALL PLAY A ROLE IN HEALTH (WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, 2010).

THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ALSO EXPOSE HEALTH INEQUALITIES AND DISPARITIES. HEALTH IS COMPLEX. PROMOTING “HEALTHY LIFE CHOICES” LIKE NUTRITION AND EXERCISE ISN’T A VALID SOLUTION ADMIST THE VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES. SECTORS SUCH AS EDUCATION, INCOM AND HOUSING MUST BE ADDRESSED.

LIVING ON THE STREET OR IN DENSELY POPULATED HOMELESS SHELTERS INCREASES ONE’S EXPOSURE TO INFECTIOUS DISEASES, SUCH AS TUBERCULOSIS, THE FLU, AND COVID-19, AS WELL AS VIOLENCE, MALNUTRITION AND EXPOSURE TO HARSH WEATHER.

HOMELESSNESS & HEALTH But its not just physical...

PATTERSON, ET AL. ‘S (2012) STUDY DESCRIBES THE NARRATIVE OF 31 HOMELESS ADULTS IN ORDER TO DOCUMENT LIVED EXPERIENCES OF INEQUALITY. MOST OF THESE INDIVIDUALS RECORDED FEELINGS OF BEING TRAPPED, SOCIAL DEVALUATION, AND LACK OF AUTONOMY. OF THESE 31 SUBJECTS, MOST WERE DIAGNOSED WITH PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS, MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODES, AND MOOD DISORDERS. OVER 50% OF THE POPULATION HAD CURRENT SUBSTANCE AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE.

POLICY & ADVOCACY HOUSING FIRST INITIATIVE: AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT ACKNOWLEDGES HOUSING AS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT, THAT NEES TO BE PRIORITIZED OVER MOST OTHER INTERVENTIONS PREVENTION PROGRAMS: FOCUSING ON PREVENTATIVE MEASURES, INCLUDING RENT ASSISTANCE, RENT CONTROL, AND LEGAL EVICTION ASSISTANCE. EMPLOYMENT & EDUCATION ASSISTANCE: JOB/TRADE TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES, AND FREE GED PREP.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM: WORKING TOWARDS A REFORMED SYSTEM THAT REDUCES THE CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESS PEOPLE, AND INSTEAD ADVOCATES FOR THE POINT INDIVIDUALS AWAY FROM JAIL AND TOWARD SUPPORT SERVICES

WHILE MANY OF THESE EFFORTS MAYBE NOT DIRECTLY CORRLEATE TO A COMPLETE SOLUTION FOR HOMELESSNESS, THEY ARE ESSENTIAL FOR FUTURE, LONG-TERM HOUSING GOALS.

Community Support Local and National

HTTPS://WWW.BHCHP.ORG

HTTPS://WWW.BOSTON.GOV/DEPARTMENTS/FO OD-JUSTICE

HTTPS://WOMENSLUNCHPLACE.ORG

HTTPS://WWW.HOMESTART.ORG

Sources DONLEY, A. M., & WRIGHT, J. D. (2017). THE HEALTH OF THE HOMELESS. SOCIOLOGY COMPASS, 12(1), E12550.

HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1111/SOC4.12550

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NATIONAL HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS COUNCIL. (2019). HOMELESSNESS & HEALTH: WHAT’S THE CONNECTION? NATIONAL HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS COUNCIL. HTTPS://NHCHC.ORG/WPCONTENT/UPLOADS/2019/08/HOMELESSNESS-AND-HEALTH.PDF

‌ PATTERSON, M. L., MARKEY, M. A., & SOMERS, J. M. (2012). MULTIPLE PATHS TO JUST ENDS: USING NARRATIVE INTERVIEWS AND TIMELINES TO EXPLORE HEALTH EQUITY AND HOMELESSNESS. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS, 11(2), 132–151. HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1177/160940691201100202

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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. (2010). A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION ON THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. IN APPS.WHO.INT. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. HTTPS://APPS.WHO.INT/IRIS/HANDLE/10665/44489

‌ FIGURE 1 ALEEM. (2023, AUGUST 21). STRATEGIES TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS IN THE US. PLANSTREET. HTTPS://WWW.PLANSTREETINC.COM/STRATEGIES-TO-REDUCE-HOMELESSNESS-IN-THE-US/‌

FIGURE 2 BURGESS, A. (2009, DECEMBER 20). HOMELESS GUY ON YONGE STREET. LOOKING NORTH, BETWEEN ADELAIDE AND RICHMOND. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS. HTTPS://COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG/WIKI/FILE:HOMELESS_GUY_ON_YONGE_STREET.JPG FIGURE 3 DIGITAL, B. D. I. (2019, JUNE 1). HOMELESSNESS IN THE US: 7 SHOCKING STATS. BDI. HTTPS://BDIAGENCY.COM/HOMELESSNESS-IN-THE-US-SHOCKING-FACTS/ ‌ FIGURE 4 2019: A REPORT ON HOMELESSNESS. (2020, FEBRUARY 15). SEEDS OF HOPE. HTTPS://LIFEBRIDGENORTHSHORE.ORG/SEEDSOFHOPE/2020/02/15/2019-A-REPORT-ON-HOMELESSNESS/