Work

Social and environmental factors impacting the health in adults experiencing episodic homelessness in Houston, Texas

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective While poorer health outcomes have been established in people experiencing episodic homelessness in the United States, there is a gap in understanding of the effects of other non-medical factors, such as employment, transportation access, and food insecurity, on health outcomes in this population. Methods This was an observational study with data collected by in-person and phone interviews, involving 40 adults experiencing episodic homelessness in the greater Houston area from September 2024 through July 2025. Results Lack of reliable food access showed a trend towards a significant association with self-described health status ( p = 0.05), with participants with limited access to food more likely to report poor health (30.00%) than those with reliable food access (5.56%). Employment status showed a significant association with having reliable food access ( p = 0.03), with participants with limited access to food more likely to report having no employment (85.71%) than those with reliable food access (52.94%). Transportation access and gross financial status did not show any association with food access. Conclusions In individuals experiencing episodic homelessness in the Houston area, reliable food access had a trend towards a significant association with self-reported health status, and having employment was significantly associated with reliable food access.

Source: Preventive Medicine Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2026.103681