M2
Slide 2
CONTENT
Overview of Physical Health Conditions Common in Homeless Populations
People experiencing homelessness face one of the highest burdens of physical illness among socially excluded groups. Their health status reflects not only individual disease processes, but the cumulative impact of structural deprivation, chronic stress, unstable living conditions, and fragmented healthcare access.
The loss of housing is often accompanied by:
Loss of income
Loss of regular healthcare contact
Loss of medication continuity
Disruption of social support
Increased exposure to environmental hazards
As a result, homelessness functions as a multiplier of health risk.
Health Inequalities and Premature Mortality
Homeless populations experience significantly higher rates of premature mortality. Studies consistently demonstrate that life expectancy may be reduced by 20–30 years compared to the general population. Many deaths occur between the ages of 45 and 50.
Mortality is driven by:
Cardiovascular disease
Cancer
Infectious diseases
Substance-related causes
Suicide
Unintentional injuries
Despite a lower average chronological age, the disease burden resembles that of housed individuals two to three decades older. This phenomenon is often described as accelerated ageing.
CORE INSIGHT
Homelessness is not only associated with poor health. It accelerates it. Chronic exposure to stress, malnutrition, violence and environmental hardship contributes to biological ageing processes.