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Homelessness

Dana Sprute, FAAFP, MPH, MD and Joo Hyun Lee, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

  • Chronic homelessness: lacking fixed, regular housing for at least 1 year, or at least four episodes of being unhoused in th...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Living conditions: location, access to food, restrooms, place to store medicines, safety

  • Prior homelessness: causes and circumstances

  • Family members, especially dependent children

  • Medica...

TREATMENT

  • Enlist community resources: mental health and substance abuse programs, free clinics, case management.

  • Health care maintenance: vaccinations (hepatitis A and B, Pneumovax, Tdap, influenza), c...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Patients with a history of nonadherence need additional support (e.g., case manager, outreach) to succeed in ongoing care after hospital discharge.

  • Limited telepho...

REFERENCES

1
National Alliance to End Homelessness. State of homelessness: 2021 edition. https://www.endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness-202 ...

CODES

ICD10

  • Z59.0 Homelessness

  • Z59.1 Inadequate housing

  • Z59.8 Other problems related to housing and economic circumstances

  • Z59.9 Problem related to housing and economic circumstances, unsp

  • Z59.3 Problems r...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Permanent supportive housing is an important step toward ending homelessness, in accordance with a Housing First approach.

  • Assistance in gaining access to benefits or providing help to ...

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