Although the article is focused mainly on the East Coast (after all it is the New York Times)... The article reports on a phenomenon that the combined residents and faculty already know all too well. The demographics of homelessness are certainly shifting to include many more families and older adults who are new to homelessness. An even greater shift is expected in the coming years. If there was even any doubt about the need for integrated combined care focused on the most vulnerable among us this article should put it to rest. Now more than ever the combination of family medicine and psychiatry, and academics and shelter based care means we will continue to make a difference in th elives of our patients.
U.S. | September 12, 2010
Number of Families in Shelters Rises
By MICHAEL LUO
From 2007 through 2009, the number of families in homeless shelters leapt to 170,000 from 131,000. Those numbers could easily climb this year.