Addressing Healthcare Disparities Among the Homeless: Insights from a Student-Run Clinic in Houston, TX

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Underserved Populations

Background:

• Unhoused individuals face significant health disparities and barriers to healthcare access.
• High prevalence of chronic disease, mental illness, and untreated conditions observed in Houston, TX.
• Existing healthcare systems struggle to meet the needs of the homeless population.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify prevalent health conditions among unhoused adults in Houston.
• Analyze patient characteristics and clinical health outcomes.
• Understand patterns in healthcare access and treatment adherence.

Main Methods:

• Utilized clinical and demographic data from 191 patients at a student-run clinic in Houston.
• Collected data on patient demographics, chief complaints, social determinants of health (SDOHs), medical history, diagnoses, and provider actions.
• Employed a cross-sectional analysis of patient records.

Main Results:

• Most prevalent issues: housing insecurity (36.1%), cardiovascular conditions (38.7%), and substance use (17.8%).
• Nearly half (46.6%) of patients declined treatment or left before receiving care.
• Significant associations found between demographics (gender, age) and provider responses (treatment type, diagnostic categorization).

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight critical challenges in treatment adherence, diagnostic bias, and patient retention among unhoused populations.
• Actionable recommendations provided for improving care coordination and continuity in low-barrier clinics.
• Emphasizes the need for tailored healthcare strategies for medically underserved communities.