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The Health of Single Homeless People

Wendy Bines

Using data from the first survey of single homeless people carried out since the late 1970s and drawing on material from group discussions, this research demonstrates the link between homelessness and ill-health. The survey included interviews with 1280 people living in hostels or bed and breakfasts, and 507 people sleeping rough in ten local authority areas in England. In comparing the same health problems reported by the general population, the paper highlights the ill-health of single homeless people. Physical health problems, including chronic chest conditions, wounds and skin complaints, digestive problems and frequent headaches, were much more common among single homeless people than the population at large. The incidence of mental health problems was disturbingly high among single homeless people: compared with the general population, mental health problems were eight times more likely to be experience by people in hostels and B&Bs, and eleven times more likely to be experienced by people sleeping rough. In general, people sleeping rough were found to suffer the worst physical and mental health of all.

Read the research Findings on the Health of Single Homeless People on the Joseph Rowntree Website

The report is available in

Date of Publication: 1995. Out of Print