Personal stories

Housing and Healthcare are Deeply Connected

Glenda Morey

June 26th 2026

When I was experiencing homelessness, healthcare often felt completely out of reach. Every day was focused on finding a safe place to sleep, getting enough food, and just plain surviving. Taking care of my health became a luxury I could not afford. I developed mental health issues that needed medical attention, but without insurance and very little money, I delayed getting care. I worried about the cost of visits, prescriptions, and follow-up treatment. As my mental health worsened, it made it even harder to find stability, maintain hope, and work toward permanent housing.

Many people experiencing homelessness face the same challenge. Health problems can make it harder to get back on your feet, yet the lack of affordable health care prevents people from getting the treatment they need. No one should suffer from illness because they cannot afford insurance or medical care. My experience taught me that housing and healthcare are deeply connected. Access to healthcare should be available to everyone regardless of their income or housing status.

Universal Healthcare would help ensure that people can get care when they need it, and prevent small health issues from becoming life-changing crises.

about the author

Glenda Morey

Glenda Morey is a writer, educator, and community advocate with a deep commitment to health equity and social justice. Her interest in single-payer health care is grounded in lived experience and years of working alongside individuals and families who face systemic barriers to care. Through her work in public education, writing, and community service, she has seen firsthand how gaps in the current health care system disproportionately affect low income communities, people with disabilities, and those living with chronic or mental health conditions. She believes health care is a human right — not a privilege tied to employment, income, or circumstance — and supports a single-payer system as a practical, ethical solution that ensures access, dignity, and stability for all. Her advocacy is driven by the belief that a healthier society begins with guaranteed care for every person, without fear of financial ruin.