The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

United States, as those experiencing homelessness have high rates of chronic mental
and physical health conditions, co-occurring disorders, and barriers to health care and
affordable housing. Homeless individuals also overuse emergency services, leading to
higher treatment costs. Numerous evidence-based strategies are being employed to
end homelessness by increasing access to housing options and supportive services for
housing stability; examples include the Housing First model, housing subsidies for
extremely low-income families, permanent supportive housing services for those with
complex health needs, and pathways to financial stability through access to disability
income and employment support. Interventions in housing, health, and income
stabilization should be holistically integrated, allowing individuals experiencing
homelessness to find their unique path to recovery. To achieve an end to
homelessness, APHA sets forth recommendations for federal, state, and local
policymakers and agencies to work collaboratively in funding evidence-based housing
acquisition practices and supportive housing stability services, as well as supporting
future innovations in integrated services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Relationship to Existing APHA Policy Statements
APHA Policy Statement 9718(PP): Supporting a National Priority to Eliminate
Homelessness
APHA Policy Statement 9611: Linkage of Medical Services for Low-Income
Populations with Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Other Addictions
APHA Policy Statement 9210: Homelessness as a Public Health Problem
APHA Policy Statement 9003: Health Care for Homeless Pregnant Teenagers
APHA Policy Statement 8413: Basic Needs of the Homeless and Homeless
Mentally Ill in the US
Problem Statement
The United Nations declared “the right to adequate housing” to be a fundamental
human right in 1991. Across the European Union, more than 400,000 individuals are
homeless on any given night, with an estimated 4.1 million people experiencing a
homeless episode each year (although varying definitions and methodologies make it
challenging to determine precise numbers). The United States has made significant
progress in ending homelessness since its Opening Doors plan was implemented in
2010, but it remains a recalcitrant public health problem.
The 2016 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Annual
Homeless Assessment Report to Congress estimated that 549,928 people experienced
homelessness on a single night in 2016, with 32% of individuals staying in unsheltered
locations. Demographically, more than 39% of individuals experiencing homelessness
self-identified as Black or African American, a significant overrepresentation relative to
the percentage in the U.S. population as a whole (13.3% in 2016). One in five people
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