Prairie State Wire

People experiencing homelessness are likely to have a significantly reduced life expectancy and are more likely to be the victim of a violent assault or homicide, according to a report prepared for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) by the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health.

The “Illinois Homelessness Morbidity and Mortality Report 2017-2022” is only the second report on the mortality of people experiencing homelessness undertaken by a state government, after the 2023 Minnesota Homeless Mortality Report. The report, which draws on statewide hospital records and death certificates, was developed as part of an ongoing multi-agency effort by Illinois state government to promote housing access and stability across the state. This effort is led by the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH), which works with IDPH and other state agencies through the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness to deepen strategies to prevent and end homelessness. The report highlights the scope of health issues disproportionately faced by people experiencing homelessness and the need to increase health-promoting interventions.

“Housing is an important social and structural determinant of health,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “Only the second report of its kind in the United States, the information presented draws into sharp focus the enormous toll that homelessness takes on unhoused Illinois residents, and the health system that works to care for them. The report diagnoses the problem, but it is only the first step. With partners across government, community, academia, and the private sector, the State of Illinois will move forward to design new and improve our current programs and policies to address disparities and achieve optimal health for our residents.”

“The health inequities highlighted by this report are stark. The findings validate what we have long understood: all people need safe, affordable housing to live healthy lives,” Illinois Chief Homelessness Officer Christine Haley said. “Homelessness is the product of generations of inequitable public policies. We must choose to collectively chart a new path—one that strengthens communities by prioritizing access to housing, particularly for our most marginalized neighbors.”

“The health concerns of people experiencing homelessness are not limited to psychiatric conditions and substance use disorders,” said UIC Professor Lee Friedman, an author of the report along with Dana Madigan, PhD., and Hannah Matzke, PhD. “People experiencing homelessness with chronic health conditions have a very high level of hospital utilization, and among those that died, the majority were suffering from chronic conditions at their time of death.”

UIC Research Assistant Professor Dana Madigan noted, “The focus for many jurisdictions has been on mortality data, which provides clear insights on the health impacts of those experiencing homelessness, but this report’s additional analysis of hospitalization data can inform interventions at earlier stages that can have a larger impact. This is especially relevant for addressing chronic health needs in this population.”

IDPH intends this report to be a tool to help partners communicate and understand health inequities facing this population and shape policies accordingly. Dr. Yvonne Collins MD., FACOG., Chief Medical Officer at CountyCare stated: "This report reflects reality that our CountyCare members experience daily—people experiencing homelessness are at an increased risk for myriad health conditions face barriers when accessing appropriate care die prematurely unnecessarily."

Findings in the report include:

- For the time period covered in this study average age at death was nearly 20 years younger for people experiencing homelessness (PEH) than general population; 56.3 vs 74.2 years old.

- There has been overall increase 36.6% deaths since COVID pandemic started while only 6.1% increase general population over same period accounting three COVID waves both groups.

- Increase deaths since COVID appears driven part increase fatal drug-related overdoses; proportion deaths pre-vs post-COVID; 27.1% vs 33.2%.

- PEH heightened risk assaulted nearly three times likely die homicide than overall population; 2.9% compared 1%.

The report emphasizes importance increasing access stable housing improving healthcare including primary care substance use disorder treatment behavioral healthcare.

As part cross-agency effort prevent end homelessness state made historic investments recent years including $290 million investment fiscal year 2025 budget used inform plans utilize funding effectively.

In ongoing effort share data make actionable partners including community service providers policymakers healthcare providers advocates IDPH UIC School Public Health recently hosted webinar presenting findings giving participants opportunity present input possible future policy initiatives.

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