

Kushel encouraged people to go past the textbooks and learn from people on the frontlines of homelessness. Experiences like this made him want to contribute to solutions in the community. They would eventually end up back at where the hospitals they came from. Watts added a tangible example where people experiencing homelessness would be dropped off by ambulances in front of the center for homelessness where he worked, which was not equipped to deal with their medical circumstances. Kushel towards work on solving the systemic failures causing “catastrophic” health outcomes in populations experiencing homelessness. Kushel explained how discharging patients experiencing homelessness only for them to come back a few days later in worse shape was unacceptable. We must know who we are serving to truly be able to tackle the systemic injustices that cause disproportionate rates of homelessness in America. Missing racial and ethnic data on homelessness is an example of structural racism. Disaggregated data on homelessness is vital. Push back against discussions that homelessness is caused by substance use or mental health problems.Ĥ. Push back against individual narratives that blame individuals for systemic injustice.

Watts remind healthcare providers to speak out about the structural causes of homelessness. If we are not part of the solution, we are complicit in structural injustice.ĭr. Do you have a medical respite center? Do you have a coordinated entry system (CES) in your community? Can you refer your patient there?ģ. Our guests emphasize that physicians must be familiar with community resources. If we do not know the housing status of our patients, then we do not know one of the most fundamental things that is going to affect their health and wellbeing. Our guests remind us to ask our patients about their housing status using non-judgmental and non-stigmatizing language.
INJUSTICE 2 CRACK STATUS HOW TO

Summary: This episode highlights homelessness’ impact on health, the structural and racialized nature of homelessness, and practical interventions to address housing inequities. Show Notes by: Victor Anthony Lopez-Carmen, MPH CPSolvers: Anti-Racism in Medicine SeriesĮpisode 15: Housing is Health: Racism and Homelessness – Clinician + Community Perspectives
