The lives of people who are experiencing homelessness are defined by uncertainty, isolation, threats, and danger. Compounding this picture are shockingly high rates of lifelong exposure to physical violence and sexual abuse. Given the frequency of exposure to overwhelmingly stressful events, it is not surprising that many people who are homeless develop complex post-trauma responses; researchers have documented how many people who have been exposed to traumatic stress develop bodily pain and chronic health conditions, and have difficulty forming supportive relationships with providers or accessing health care.¹ This, in turn, can make it more difficult for them to access services and find pathways to stable housing. 

Exmples of common trauma-related disorders include reactive attachment disorder, disinhibited social engagement disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, and adjustment disorders.