Public Health Nursing as Connective Infrastructure: A Health Policy Perspective on Family Homelessness and Health Equity

Family homelessness is shaped by social and structural determinants of health, including poverty, housing insecurity, fragmented services, and unequal access to support. Families with infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to the health and developmental effects of housing instability. Public Health Nurses (PHNs) are uniquely positioned at the interface of health services, family life, and community systems. Through universal reach, relational continuity, developmental surveillance, safeguarding, advocacy, and interagency coordination, PHNs help families remain connected to care despite repeated moves and service fragmentation. However, this connective work is often under-recognized in policy, workforce planning, and service evaluation. This policy perspective paper argues that family homelessness is a public health and health equity issue that requires explicit recognition of PHNs as essential connective infrastructure and continuity providers within integrated responses to family homelessness. Strengthening the role of PHNs requires policy and organizational investment in clear referral pathways, digital connectivity supports, adequate staffing, clinical supervision, and evaluation frameworks that capture prevention, advocacy, and sustained connection to care. Making PHN work visible is both a professional nursing priority and a health policy requirement. Recognizing, resourcing, and evaluating PHN continuity work is essential to reducing inequalities and protecting the health and wellbeing of families experiencing homelessness.