The Health of Homeless Women

Abstract

Chapter 7 examines the health of homeless women, which is an under-researched topic in most European countries. It presents an overview of the available European research evidence on the health of homeless women and the factors that influence homeless women’s access to health services in different national health care and welfare systems. Although the knowledge base is patchy, thus limiting the extent to which comparisons can be made between countries, there is considerable evidence of relatively poor health among homeless women. Furthermore, the effectiveness with which the health care needs of homeless women are met depends, to a large degree, on enabling factors such as the nature and accessibility of national health care services. The chapter concludes that there is considerable scope for further research within and across European countries in order to better establish how women’s homelessness affects their health and how homeless women experience health care services across Europe.