Experiencing homelessness significantly increases your chance of having long-term physical health problem or being diagnosed with a mental health condition. More than 70% of respondents to a survey of more than 2,500 homeless people across England reported one or more physical health problems, while more than more than eight out of 10 reported a mental health issue.
While it should come as no surprise that being homeless is bad for your health, what is shocking is the extent of the inequality between those who do and do not have a home, and the lack of progress we seem to be making in addressing the issue. More than 40% of homeless people in our study reported a long-term physical health problem, compared with just 28% of the general population, while 45% had been diagnosed with a mental health problem, almost double the level seen in the general population.
The difference with the general population is even starker when it comes to specific health issues. Rates of depression, for example, are more than 10 times higher in the homeless population, while long-term stomach problems are four times more common.
http://www.theguardian.com/society-professionals/2014/jul/22/homelessness-public-health-crisis
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