Running head: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

Deliverable Two: Executive Summary

Rasmussen University Online

LaToya T. Benson

Population Health

August 7, 2022

Introduction/Background

Housing is a human right. However, millions are denied this fundamental right. Homelessness goes beyond people not having homes. It significantly impacts our economy, public health, and society in general. It affects everyone regardless of their social and economic status. It is a complex social problem with various underlying economic and social factors such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, uncertain physical and mental health, addictions, and community and family breakdown. Homelessness affects the health and well-being of our entire community, and it is within our power to change how we address it and even end it. (“Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Health Care for Homeless People,” 1988). The more homeless we have, the higher the state of Illinois poverty, leading to a lower quality of life. This executive summary allows for an increased understanding of the needs of our community, why they exist and why it is vital to address these needs. It also describes data for strategic planning, priority setting, program outcomes, and program improvements. It allows us as a community to dive deeper to understand the change within each of the communities we serve. According to the data provided by Continuums of Care to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, as of January 2020, Illinois has an estimated 10,431 individuals experiencing Homelessness on any given day (“Illinois homelessness statistics”, n.d.). The state of Illinois is ranked 39th in the United States (“Illinois homelessness statistics,” n.d.). This executive summary aims to establish a PHM (Population Health Management) program by our community for the community. Also, to empower our state and community partners to improve their response to persons and families suffering Homelessness in our state.

Illinois Population Demographics

Demographic data was collected from people experiencing Homelessness from all household structures (“2021HomelessPoint-in-TimeCountReport”, n.d.), This demographic data collected includes gender, age, race, and ethnicity:

· Gender: Males are the dominant gender among the homeless populations

· Race: Black/African Americans represented 74 percent of the homeless population

· Age: 25-40 and 41-60 cohorts make up the most significant proportion of the homeless population

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Significant healthcare risks in the homeless population

Clinical data were collected from hospital research and case studies to determine significant health risks for the homeless community. Individuals without homes are at high risk for hospitalizations related to physical illnesses, mental illness, and substance abuse than other populations such as:

• HIV/AIDS

• Lung diseases including bronchitis, tuberculosis, and pneumonia

• Mental health problems

• Hepatitis C

Socioeconomic determinants in Homelessness Data was collected to determine the causes of homelessness and the findings were:

• Low economic stability

• fewer wages

• Lack of access to quality healthcare

• Low governmental support

Recommendations

• Emergency and Transitional Housing

• Emergency Food Program

• Homeless Prevention Program

• Supportive Housing Program

• Free Health screenings

Conclusion

Information to obtain high-quality data and create long-term strategies for prevention. Therefore, identifying at-risk groups’ risk and protective variables will help to keep them from becoming homeless. Data accuracy is crucial because inaccurate data leads to faulty predictions. Data sets are essential for evaluating health disparities and correcting health inequities. Correct data in healthcare may be the difference between life and death for the individual patient and the whole patient population (Senthilkumar et al., 2018).

References

Homelessness in America. National Alliance to End Homelessness. (2019, March 5). Retrieved August 7, 2022, from https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/

(n.d.). Homelessness, health, and human needs. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved August 7, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25032307/

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/fss/supp_info/Homeless/2021PITCOUNT/2021

HomelessPoint-in-TimeCountReport.pdf. (n.d.).

Illinois homelessness statistics. Homeless in Illinois Statistics 2019. Homeless Estimation by State | US Interagency Council on Homelessness. (n.d.). Retrieved August 7, 2022, from https://www.usich.gov/homelessness-statistics/il/#:~:text=As%20of%20January%202020%2C%20Illinois,and%20Urban%20Development%20(HUD).

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Health Care for Homeless People.

Homelessness, Health, and Human Needs. Washington (DC): National Academies Press

(US); 1988. 3, Health Problems of Homeless People. Available from:

Senthilkumar, S. A., Rai, B. K., Meshram, A. A., Gunasekaran, A., & Chandrakumarmangalam, S. (2018). Big data in healthcare management: a review of the literature. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Business, 4(2), 57-69.