Health centers can play a key role in improving shelter health for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. In addition to screening and treating conditions that arise in the shelter setting, health centers can work with local shelters and public health departments to mitigate health risks by developing strategies to prevent, identify and resolve drivers of poor health. This issue brief identifies certain health issues that can be particularly affected by shelter conditions, identifies opportunities for health centers to be engaged in local efforts to improve shelter health, and describes environmental health services supported by the federal Health Center Program.
Categories:
Best Practices, Clinical Practice, Homeless Services, Shelter Health