Exercise Access for People who have Experienced Homelessness

This study explores the exercise barriers and supports people experiencing homelessness have faced. It also considers how exercise interventions could be tailored to minimize these barriers and increase access to exercise. Homelessness is a life-threatening issue and the number of people experiencing it is rising. While many organizations address housing, nutrition, healthcare, and employment, access to exercise is largely overlooked despite evidence that exercise combats health risks associated with homelessness. Within this study, I partnered with four transitional living homes in Denver and interviewed people who had experienced homelessness within the past two years about their interactions with exercise.
The study used action-based interviewing: a community-based method that prioritizes participants in the development of the social change being addressed. This approach was valuable in centering the voices of the population at hand, ensuring future exercise interventions are practically relevant. By addressing these questions, this project will contribute to building new knowledge on experiences of exercise among unhoused populations. Designed with community partners, the project provides information immediately relevant to Denver’s transitional living programs, helping to inform the design of more effective community-based interventions that support homelessness well-being. The findings will be disseminated back to community partners through workshops with their staff and community members.