The HIV rate for homeless families is nearly 12 times the national average, according to a new Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness (ICPH) report. In the policy brief titled “Homeless Family Subpopulations and Their Overlapping Needs,” investigators examined factors that contribute to or result from homelessness, including mental illness, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence and veteran status. Findings showed that up to 70 percent of people with HIV/AIDS report one or more episodes of housing instability, underlining the added fiscal and health burden that HIV presents to individuals and families. Researchers expressed the need to gather more information on how HIV affects various subgroups of the U.S. homeless population.

To read the ICPH report, click here.