The research explores the scale and impact of physical disability in people experiencing homelessness in Ireland. It makes an important contribution to the evidence base on physical disability and homelessness in Ireland. It was conducted in three phases: a scoping review of literature, a cross-sectional mapping study on physical disability and accessibility in homeless accommodation in Dublin and Cork, and interviews with people experiencing homelessness and other stakeholders about the impact of physical disability and potential solutions. This study found just over one fifth of their sample of people accessing homeless accommodation had some kind of mobility limitation. Of those, just under half were sleeping in rooms up at least one set of stairs and just under half of these were staying in a hostel without a lift. In addition, one third of those with impacted or restricted mobility did not have access to an accessible bathroom. 

P.9 People who experience homelessness often have a high burden of poor health. Common health problems among homeless individuals include previous head injuries and falls, early fragility, high blood pressure, epilepsy, HIV, TB, and chronic liver, lung, and stomach problems. Linked to poor health and a complex interaction of other factors, including mental health conditions and concurrent substance use issues,7 physical functioning limitations and the earlier onset of premature geriatric conditions such as frailty and falls are common and may occur twenty years earlier than the general population...

P.14 The various barriers to healthcare faced by individuals (Appendix D) included but were not limited to: a lack of transportation to medical appointments or the pharmacy, stigma and discrimination, excessive waiting time for essential mobility equipment, a lack of services for people who are actively using substances, lack of geriatric services for people with premature ageing,28 a lack of multi-disciplinary, coordinated, and integrated services to manage complex health problems, and poor quality of care both in hostels and in hospital settings...