Abstract
INTRODUCTION: People experiencing homelessness face profound barriers in accessing healthcare, particularly preventive services such as foot care. Globally, rough sleepers are vulnerable to foot-related morbidity due to prolonged exposure, inadequate footwear and poor hygiene access. Despite this, foot health remains an under-researched aspect of homelessness. OBJECTIVE: To explore the lived experiences of rough-sleeping adults in the United Kingdom in relation to foot health, self-care practices and access to podiatric services, and to understand how these experiences influence their overall health and well-being. METHODS: This qualitative study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to investigate the narratives of seven adults (five men and two women, aged between 30 and 62, all identifying as White British) who were sleeping rough in an urban UK setting. Semistructured interviews were conducted at a community drop-in centre. The consequent transcripts were analyzed thematically, focusing on participants' interpretations of foot health, access to care and coping within the context of homelessness. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: foot care as survival, normalisation of foot health problems, barriers to foot care access and the charity sector as a lifeline. Participants reported widespread foot problems, including chronic pain, infections and poor nail health. Barriers to care included stigma, distrust of medical professionals, inflexible services and competing survival priorities. Lack of access to basic hygiene and footwear exacerbated foot health issues. In contrast, charitable services offering podiatry were described as vital sources of support and dignity. CONCLUSION: Foot health is integral to the mobility, independence and psychosocial well-being of people experiencing homelessness. Findings highlight the need for flexible, outreach-oriented and stigma-informed approaches to podiatric care. Charitable models offer transferable insights for statutory and community services seeking to improve equitable access to foot care for socially marginalised populations.