Health & social care in the community
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Health Soc Care Community · Sep 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyWhere do people go when they first become homeless? A survey of homeless adults in the USA.
The longer a person is homeless, the more likely he or she is to experience poor health and be placed at higher risk for premature death. This makes interventions early in one's homelessness an important prevention strategy. However, little is known about where someone goes for help when they first become homeless and how well those sites are prepared to address the multitude of issues facing a homeless person. ⋯ Those persons reporting a need for alcohol treatment were significantly more likely to first go to a healthcare site (46.4% vs. 29.1%, P < 0.01) and those with alcohol abuse/dependence were less likely to seek help from family or friends (66.7% vs. 81.9%, P < 0.01). Most respondents sought assistance for concerns directly associated with an immediate need as opposed to seeking care for issues causing their actual homelessness. These findings suggest the need to expand and integrate the availability of services at 'first-stop' access sites that facilitate early exits from homelessness.