Health & Healthcare: All Related Resources

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. Despite efforts by many countries to reduce the impact of tobacco products and lower smoking rates, smoking prevalence is higher among people experiencing homelessness. The reasons are complex and go beyond individual choices, including limited awareness about quitting, restricted access to services, and previous negative experiences. Using the SEM framework, which emphasizes the policy and environmental contexts, this study offers a deeper understanding of the context of the lives women experiencing homelessness. The evidence from this study supports the implementation of gender- and age-appropriate holistic approaches to healthcare and tobacco interventions tailored to this community.

People experiencing homelessness in California face high rates of chronic illness and disability, and numerous barriers to care. These health challenges make it harder for people to obtain and retain housing, and homelessness worsens health, trapping people in a vicious cycle. As the homeless population ages, these burdens deepen, with profound implications for individuals, communities, and the systems that serve them. This webinar includes findings from our recent report, Toward Thriving: Understanding Health & Homelessness, with insights from the report’s lead author and experts from across the health and homelessness systems.

The University of California, San Francisco Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) today released a report on the relationship between health and homelessness. Toward Thriving: Understanding Health & Homelessness reveals that nearly half of Californians experiencing homelessness rate their health as poor or fair—about four times the rate in the general U.S. population. The report documents high rates of chronic disease, disability, and steep barriers to care for Californians experiencing homelessness.