Community Health Needs Assessment
In 2016, we asked people experiencing homelessness what their healthcare needs and barriers were.
We compiled and analyzed the data of over 120 surveys.
Here is what we found.
People experiencing homelessness are mostly covered by Medicaid.
On average, the respondents have had 1 visit to the emergency department in the 6 months prior to taking the survey.
70% of respondents have not had dental care in the last two years.
BARRIERS TO CARE
Our survey data suggest that there are two main barriers to care for housing insecure people.
The barriers are ACCESS and SECURITY.
ACCESS
Our fellow citizens experiencing homeless lack equitable access to meeting their healthcare needs.
Our survey data suggest that the following are the largest barriers limiting patient access to care:
Cannot afford to pay
Insufficient transportation
Do not know where to go
Challenges getting an appointment
Cannot get time off from work
Cannot get childcare
SECURITY
Our fellow citizens experiencing homeless do not feel secure enough to meet their healthcare needs.
Our survey data suggest that the following aspects of security are barriers to care:
Do not trust the healthcare system
Fear of being judged
No safe place to store belongings
Fear of legal trouble for drugs/alcohol
We are currently developing a second survey to be asked of people experiencing homelessness in 2020/2021. This survey data will then be used to modify our approaches to serving our clients.
