The homeless

The medical literature on homeless people tends to concentrate on their biographic characteristics or clinical problems without enough attention being given to the social and environmental contexts which they have to survive. This article summarises the literature on the role of social factors in the causation and outcome of health problems of the homeless and emphasises the importance of addressing the social context in effecting intervention. Services that deal with the social needs of the homeless will be more successful in meeting their needs and reducing their distress.