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This study seeks to assess the health, social and economic outcomes associated with rough sleeping among women and compare those outcomes with those of (1) men sleeping rough, and (2) women experiencing other forms of homelessness (such as being housed in temporary supported accommodation due to family and domestic violence). The paper analyses survey data using the Vulnerability Index‐Service Prioritization Decision Analysis Tool (VI‐SPDAT) collected from 2735 women experiencing homelessness and 3124 men sleeping rough in Australian cities from 2010 to 2017. We find that women sleeping rough report poorer physical and mental health outcomes and greater problematic drug and or alcohol use relative to both men sleeping rough and women experiencing other types of homelessness (all p < 0.5). Women sleeping rough report significantly higher levels of crisis service utilisation (Β = 17.9, SE = 3.9, p < 0.001) and interactions with police in the previous 6 months (Β = 1.9, SE = 0.3, p < 0.001) than women experiencing homelessness not sleeping rough. Women sleeping rough also report greater healthcare utilisation, and, therefore, healthcare costs, than women experiencing homelessness not sleeping rough and men sleeping rough (all p < 0.05). From a policy perspective, the evidence presented in this paper supports a social determinants approach that moves from addressing symptoms of poor health outcomes associated with homelessness to preventing and ending homelessness with a particular focus on the life trajectories of women. Integrated services and homelessness strategies need to be developed through a gender lens, providing women sleeping rough with tailored permanent housing with wrap‐around supportive housing to address poor health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well documented that lower socio-economic status is associated with poorer health outcomes, while health literacy is considered important for improving health. What is less clear, is the extent to which greater health literacy can improve health outcomes among people for whom poverty or financial insecurity are important barriers to health. The paper presents findings from an Australian survey of people living with HIV (PLHIV) (N = 835) in which we explored the relationship between financial insecurity and health outcomes, looking at the extent to which health literacy mediates this relationship. The study drew on a comprehensive definition of health literacy, measuring participant's confidence to communicate with healthcare providers, navigate the health system and take an active stance in relation to their health. Findings showed that financial insecurity was associated with lower health literacy and poorer self-reported physical and mental health. Health literacy mediated 16.2% of the effect of financial insecurity on physical health scores and 16.6% of the effect of financial insecurity on mental health scores. This suggests that programmes which seek to build health literacy among PLHIV may improve health outcomes among PLHIV who are struggling financially. Health literacy programmes are likely to be effective if they build confidence and resourcefulness among people to engage with health information, decision-making and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]