Healthcare is important for everyone, especially for our young, homeless Americans. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, every day we have at least 35,000 young adults under 25 living on the streets on their own.
Whether these adolescents are homeless because they have run away from abuse, because they have been turned out of their homes, or because they have aged out of foster care, it is important that they get necessary healthcare to prevent chronic illnesses from becoming more advanced.
According to youth.gov, many health problems homeless youth face are more prominent than those of their housed peers.
A lack of nutrition often leads to a higher risk of obesity and vitamin deficiency. Many can’t afford healthy, nutritious food important to physical and mental development and health. Doctors have linked malnutrition to a host of problems, such as poor oral health, diabetes, and heart disease.
Homeless youth also have a higher risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease due to not practicing safe sex with multiple partners or illicit drug use. Homeless teenagers are up to 12 times more likely to contract HIV.
Research from youthtoday.org has shown that nearly half of America’s homeless women and girls are pregnant or have already given birth. A lack of proper care for these young women has led to an increase in low birth weight and higher rates of infant mortality.
According to Covenant House, homeless kids also suffer from more mental health issues than average. These can range from depression to PTSD and possibly lead to suicide. Without acessible mental healthcare, many homeless youths turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to self-medicate their mental health problems.
It is more important now than ever that we provide healthcare resources to the youth who are struggling on the streets. If you are a homeless youth or know somebody that is, continue reading to learn about some healthcare options for those with little to no income.
Resources for Homeless Youth Health Care
The Affordable Care Act
Homeless and at-risk youth are most likely eligible for healthcare coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA promotes access to affordable health care for all Americans, including homeless and aged out youth, and allows states to expand eligibility for Medicaid. Medicaid is a health care program for low or no-income people, run by each state.
Medicaid eligibility requirements can cause problems. To qualify, one must go through an application process that requires proper documentation. For homeless youth, these documents can be difficult to provide. That is why it is important to get third-party help for securing and keeping Medicaid. There are agencies and organizations in most local communities that can assist homeless youths by finding benefits on their behalf. Some states also take additional steps to increase access to Medicaid benefits.Localhelp.healthcare.gov can help you find local help to getting started with healthcare benefits.
WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
Health Centers from the Health Resources and Services Administration
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provides free or low-cost health centers across the country. For 50 years, these health centers have provided affordable, accessible, and quality primary healthcare to patients, regardless of how much they can pay, if anything at all.
The HRSA funds almost 1,400 health centers. It is a community-based group that performs primary medical, mental health, treatment for substance use disorders, dental services, and vision care. They can provide other patient support services, such as medical transportation and health education.
Shelter-Based Clinics
The National Health Care for Homeless Council (NHCHC) has offers support to emergency shelters to bridge the gap between clinics and shelters for patients who are homeless and in need of aid. They also offer regional training to staff members and help with Medicaid enrollment.
Many homeless shelters have in-house clinics where they can treat patients who are homeless, not limited to runaway youth and those who are aged out of the foster care system.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has programs for those suffering from homelessness. It expands treatment for mental health and substance use disorders for those who have mental illness, emotional disturbance, or another co-occurring disorder.
The SAMSHA Center for Mental Health Services administers a grant program to fund these services. The program increases access to treatment, peer support, and services to support recovery among patients. This access is critical for many people who otherwise could not be treated.
Funding is also available for efforts to engage and connect clients to enrollment resources for health insurance, Medicaid, and other benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
NeedyMeds for Health Care and Prescription Drugs
NeedyMeds.org is a non-profit organization that maintains a website with additional free information about programs that can help people if they cannot afford medication or healthcare and publish resources for specific diseases. Up-to-date information is available on over 9,000 assistance programs nationwide, 15,000 free, low-cost, or sliding scale clinics, and coupons for many prescription drugs.
For those who can pay for some healthcare, they also offer a free drug discount card accepted at many pharmacies across the nation. Homeless and impoverished people can use it to save on prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and some medical supplies.
Get the Help You Need Today
Whether you are a young man or woman who has run away, been turned out by family, or aged out of the foster care system with no support, there are resources available to help you. Nobody should have to suffer from a lack of healthcare, no matter your circumstances. Make use of these programs, as well as our resource list, to improve your health today. Whether you need help with primary health, prescription medications, prenatal health, dental or vision care, mental health counseling or substance abuse treatments, there are options for you.