People struggling with homelessness are often frequent users of emergency departments. On average, they visit the emergency room five times per year. The highest users of emergency departments visit weekly. Each visit costs $3,700; that’s $18,500 spent per year for the average person and $44,400 spent per year for the highest users of emergency departments.
People struggling with homelessness spend, on average, 3 nights per visit in the hospital which can cost over $9,000.
Not only does homelessness cause health problems, “homeless people have higher rates of chronic health problems than the general population. This takes the form of higher rates of illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and HIV disease” (Dr. Margot Kushel, Associate Professor of Medicine in Residence, UCSK/ SF General Hospital).
80% of emergency room visits made by people struggling with homelessness is for an illness that could have been treated with preventative care.
Studies show that housing is a critical factor in addressing the health concerns of the homeless population. After they are in their own housing, the formerly homeless individual is more receptive to interventions and social services support. Offering the provision of housing to the homeless community decreases the number of visits they make to emergency departments by nearly 61%.
Ultimately, providing permanent supportive housing to the homeless community saves the taxpayer money. In southern Texas, for instance,
1. Health care costs are reduced by 59%.
2. Emergency room costs are decreased by 61%.
3. General inpatient hospitalizations are decreased by 77%.
For community members who need assistance with medical and/or psychosocial issues, permanent supportive housing is often the only successful approach to end homelessness. Safe and permanent housing can give residents the stability they need to organize their lives and their health.
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