title: A population-based assessment of the health of homeless families in New York City, 2001-2003.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared estimated population-based health outcomes for New York City (NYC) homeless families with NYC residents overall and in low-income neighborhoods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We matched a NYC family shelter user registry to mortality, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and blood lead test registries maintained by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (2001-2003).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall adult age-adjusted death rates were similar among the 3 populations. HIV/AIDS and substance-use deaths were 3 and 5 times higher for homeless adults than for the general population; only substance-use deaths were higher than for low-income adults. Children who experienced homelessness appeared to be at an elevated risk of mortality (41.3 vs 22.5 per 100,000; P < .05). Seven in 10 adult and child deaths occurred outside shelter. Adult HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates were more than twice citywide rates but comparable with low-income rates, whereas tuberculosis rates were 3 times higher than in both populations. Homeless children had lower blood lead testing rates and a higher proportion of lead levels over 10 micrograms per deciliter than did both comparison populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Morbidity and mortality levels were comparable between homeless and low-income adults; homeless children's slightly higher risk on some measures possibly reflects the impact of poverty and poor-quality, unstable housing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY 10013, USA. bkerker@health.nyc.gov
authors.forename: Bonnie D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kerker
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bainbridge
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Yussef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bennani
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Agerton
authors.forename: Dova
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marder
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forgione
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faciano
authors.forename: Lorna E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Thorpe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000401:mortality; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D007854:Lead