South Asian Indians are among the well-sheltered communities in New York City, a recent study has revealed. Often considered to be one of the most affluent groups in the United States, South Asian Indians are not among the homeless of New York City. This follows the premise that owning a home is a priority for South Asian Indians in order to settle down in any country.
In the study by New York’s Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and Homeless Services (DOHMH), it was found that South Asian Indians consist only 1 percent of the homeless people in New York City. This is supported by another study by the Center for Immigration Studies, which found that South Asian Indians were indeed among the better off people in United States. Only 6.1 percent of South Asian Indian immigrants in the United States could be categorized as “living in poverty.”
South Asian Indians follow after Filipinos (5 percent), Canadians (5.3 percent), and Germans (5.9 percent). The largest percentage was Mexicans at 26.4 percent. Also, South Asians Indians live above the poverty level at 17.3 percent.
“Very few Asians visit shelter homes in New York City. These are generally considered to be a more prosperous community,” informed Department of Homeland Security’s Holly Humphrey.
The DOHMH report describes the health of those adults who spent at least one night in a DHS shelter between 2001 and 2003. A total of 55,941 single adults and 46,832 adults in families used the DHS shelter system for at least one night during this period.
Data collected from over 100,000 adults showed that the homeless have higher death rates and are susceptible to poor physical and mental health. The report also tracks hospitalizations, as well as deaths due to extreme weather conditions for all homeless adults.
The study found that homeless adults died at twice the rate of non-homeless New York City adults. Substance abuse and HIV/AIDS accounted for nearly one- third of all the deaths among homeless adults, compared with less than five percent among New York City adults overall.
Additionally, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, and mental illness accounted for 69 percent of hospitalizations among homeless adults, compared with 10 percent among New York City adults.
“Focusing in on the leading causes of illness and death can improve the health of a high percentage of men and women who, in addition to suffering from serious illnesses, face the challenge of being homeless. And doing so can help people find and keep a stable home,” Deputy Mayor Linda I. Gibbs said.
“This study offers a first dramatic look at a hard-to-reach population with serious health needs,’ said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden.
“It is a stark reminder of how urgently attention is needed. Progress requires working closely with our partners in community-based organizations and the health care community, particularly those providing direct services to homeless people. Working together, we can improve the health of homeless New Yorkers.”
