Honors Program
Changemaker Scholars, Honors in Nursing
Date of Award
5-2026
Thesis Professor(s)
Judith Rice
Thesis Professor Department
Nursing
Abstract
Individuals experiencing homelessness represent a vulnerable population facing significant health and social challenges across the United States. Although people of all ages are affected, certain age groups are disproportionately represented. National data indicate that adults aged 35-54 make up the largest community of individuals experiencing homelessness, with a growing number of adults aged 55 and older. However, less is known about how these national trends compare to local populations, particularly in Appalachia. The purpose of this study is to compare the age distribution between individuals experiencing homelessness at the national level with local data from northeast Tennessee to identify potential differences and their implications for nursing practice. This study uses a descriptive, comparative cross-sectional design, drawing on secondary data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report and the Tennessee Valley Coalition for the Homeless 2024 Point-in-Time count, along with regional PATH program data. Findings indicate that, while both national and local populations are concentrated among middle-aged adults, the local population is slightly older, with a higher proportion of individuals aged 45-54 and an increasing representation of those over age 50. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating local demographic data into healthcare planning, as an older population may require increased focus on chronic disease management and preventative care. This study supports the need for tailored, population-specific nursing interventions to improve patient health outcomes.
Publisher
East Tennessee State University
Document Type
Honors Thesis - Open Access
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Cross, Alexandria and Somiah, Samantha, "Comparison of Age Distribution Among Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: Local and National Perspectives" (2026). Undergraduate Honors Theses. Paper 852. https://dc.etsu.edu/honors/852
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
