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Homeless youth have more chronic diseases than youth in more stable living situations. Homeless youth tend to seek out health care solely for crises. For this population, health care is usually not continuous and is not covered by most health insurance plans. Homeless youth who do seek health care encounter obstacles such as parental consent, financial problems, and legal issues. They are a population with particularly high HIV rates and are at a high risk for acquiring HIV infection. Comprehensive care is necessary for HIV-positive youth and youth at high risk for HIV infection, due to all of the medical and psychosocial issues associated with HIV infection.
The Boston HAPPENS Program strives to cross institutional barriers and connect homeless youth to needed social and medical services by meeting youth where and when they choose. Boston HAPPENS staff provide confidential care settings and facilitated transportation. They provide high quality, accessible, youth-oriented, culturally sensitive care for HIV-positive, homeless, and youth at-risk for HIV.
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Homeless Youth
