do homeless populations have a high prevalence of HIV infection?
People who are homeless have poorer health and higher mortality than the general population.3 The prevalence of HIV/AIDS varies widely among homeless subgroups, but generally exceeds that of the non-homeless population. The elevated prevalence of infection combined with limited access to treatment and poor living conditions have contributed to HIV/AIDS becoming a leading cause of death in this population.4 A study in San Francisco, CA, reported an overall HIV prevalence of 10.5% for currently homeless and marginally housed adults, which is five times higher than that of the general San Francisco population. The same study reported an HIV prevalence of 30% among homeless men who have sex with men (MSM) and 8% among homeless injection drug users (IDUs).5 The association between homelessness and HIV appears to be a two-way street. HIV+ persons are at greater risk of homelessness due to discrimination and the high costs of housing and medical care. At the same time, homeless people have an
