The health status of people experiencing homelessness is difficult to generalize given the diverse characteristics, such as gender, age, race, and time spent in homelessness, that contribute to overall health; however, medical conditions frequently noted among homeless persons include HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, and Hepatitis C.
Estimates of HIV prevalence among unstably housed people differ, depending on variables such as the sampling methods used, the geographic area sampled, and the economic status of the area. However, compared to other groups known to be at highest risk for HIV infection, including individuals who engage in intravenous drug use and/or unprotected sex with infected partners, those without stable housing are more likely to be HIV positive consistently across geographic areas.