Objectives: to analyze the understanding of homeless people living in a city in the countryside of São Paulo about what health is and about their experiences in health services.
Methods: a qualitative exploratory study developed through interviews with homeless people and a field diary. The data were organized by themes and the findings were compared to a collective health framework.
Results: the explored themes were: "Being healthy for the homeless population", "The search for health services" and "Being a user of health services from the perspective of homeless people". We present the interviewees' understanding of health and their experiences in healthcare services. Along this path, we outline aspects that show the network's weaknesses, permeated by prejudices and discrimination.
Final considerations: this population has conceptions about health and needs that need to be singularly taken into consideration to facilitate access and care.