Homelessness Alliance Analysis

According to American Psychological Association (APA, 2010), individuals without homes often lack access to health care treatment. In fact, chronic health problems and inaccessibility to medical and dental care can increase school absences and limit employment opportunities. Homeless individuals have higher rates of hospitalizations for physical illnesses, mental illness, and substance abuse than other population.
The Canadian Mental Health Association reports that one-third of all homeless people live with mental illness (Echenberg & Jensen, 2012). In another study of the 300 adult users of Toronto homeless shelters, 67% reported a lifetime diagnosis of mental illness and 68% of individuals had a history of substance abuse or dependence.
The Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective policy solutions. The Alliance works collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity, leading to stronger programs and policies that help communities achieve their goal of ending homelessness. This group provide data and research to policymakers and elected officials in order to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide. There are four key areas that the Alliance works to end all homelessness: family, youth, veteran, and chronic
The access of health care to this vulnerable population has been known to be a major issue. The negative impact of homelessness on an individual’s physical health is well known and well documented. Studies have demonstrated that there are consistently higher rates of HIV, tuberculosis, hypertension, and respiratory illnesses in the homeless population (Zlotnick, Zerger, & Wolfe, 2013). Poverty and homelessness represent great obstacles towards health and well-being. Most homeless people lack health insurance (Zlotnick, Zerger, & Wolfe, 2013). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) should help fix this unbalance of access to care. The Affordable Care Act should help 30 million uninsured Americans have access to health care.
According to Persad (2015) many aspects of the ACA simply attempt to improve cost, quality, or access to healthcare for individuals across the nation. Under the ACA, Medicare and Medical will expand to cover individuals an even larger section of the population. The ACA is a great opportunity for the uninsured, such as the majority of the homeless population, to gain medical insurance. These health insurances will be funded at the federal and state level. There has been no better time in U.S. history for the uninsured to obtain health