Establishing Academic Homes for Homelessness: A Call to Action

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Equity
• Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• Homelessness is a significant societal challenge with profound health equity implications.
• The academic community, particularly public health programs, has historically underaddressed the health impacts and solutions related to homelessness.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for academic engagement with homelessness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the critical need for academic institutions, especially schools of public health, to actively engage with the issue of homelessness.
• To advocate for the integration of homelessness education into public health curricula.
• To encourage research and policy development addressing the root causes and solutions for homelessness.

Main Methods:

• This is a conceptual and advocacy-based piece, not a research study.
• It calls for increased academic involvement, curriculum development, and community-engaged research.
• It emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches and national partnerships.

Main Results:

• Few public health programs currently offer dedicated courses on homelessness.
• There is a significant gap in academic research and educational focus on homelessness.
• The urgency for action is amplified in the current public health landscape.

Conclusions:

• Academia must prioritize addressing homelessness to improve health equity.
• Public health students require foundational knowledge of homelessness challenges and solutions.
• Increased interdisciplinary collaboration and community partnerships are essential to support marginalized populations affected by homelessness.