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Addressing Health Disparities Among Homeless In Alachua County Through Community-Based Participatory Research., Meron Hirpa, Omar Iqbal, Haider Ali, Sama I. Ilyas, Nabeel Iqbal, Jeena A. Kar, Tiffany Splatt, Brendan Shortley, Nancy Hardt

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Introduction. In states such as Florida that did not expand Medicaid, a large number of economically disadvantaged individuals do not qualify for subsidies to buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ². This leaves the health needs of Florida’s homeless population largely unaddressed. Nearly 48.1% of Alachua County’s homeless population has disabling conditions ¹⁶. This confirms a pressing need to understand the homeless population's healthcare needs, knowledge, and barriers in accessing healthcare. Methods. We used a Community-Based Participatory Research model in conducting health fairs and needs assessment surveys, incentivizing participation, and providing education about existing resources. …