A primary care approach to treating women without homes

Medical practitioners are encountering more women who are presently or formerly homeless. Homelessness negatively affects health and health outcomes. Women without homes experience repeated violence and trauma. In this review, the definition and scope of homelessness as it impacts women is discussed, from the etiology of women's homelessness to a description of their lifestyle. A paradigm of a primary care approach to understanding and treating women without homes is presented, including strategies for history taking, physical exams, and follow-up care that help build trust and improve compliance.