Image of the Week: Barriers to Health Care

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-02-22 18:10:00 UTC
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People without homes are more likely to be sick and less likely to have access to health care. Whether it's the common cold, a sore tooth, or mental illness, these issues left untreated can quickly spiral out of control.

A recent article in Longview, Texas' News-Journal features stories of several homeless people plagued by illness. It paints a realistic picture of the daily struggles homeless people face while trying to care for themselves. It also examines another perspective of this issue, exploring the attempts of homeless advocates to meet the medical needs of homeless folks in their community.

Photo from News-Journal.com: "Vietnam veteran Lorenzo Johnson, 55, says he's blessed to receive free medical care at the VA clinic on East Marshall Avenue. He recently had a biopsy taken of a hard bump that appeared on his cheek. He's also had a colonoscopy and teeth pulled at the clinic."

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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