Bridging the Gap Between Housing and Healthcare in the U.S.
Politico explores a four-year effort to demonstrate how permanent housing can alleviate costly health care visits among people who had been chronically homeless in Houston, Texas. Allan Clifton shares his story of health improvements and reduced visits to emergency care after being permanently housed through the project. The author suggests that if the approach proves to be cost effective, other states could benefit from the same strategy.
Read the article here.
For more stories out this month exploring the connection between healthcare and housing, see:
- Homeless Patients get Novel Treatment from Chicago Hospitals: Housing (WBEZ radio, Chicago)
- Why More Chicago Hospitals Are Getting into the Housing Business (Crain’s Chicago Business)
- Hospitals Tackling Homelessness to Bring Down Costs (Healthcare DIVE)
Guardian and Observer Raise Over £1.5m for Homeless Services in the U.K.
More than 15,000 Guardian and Observer readers donated to their 2017 charity appeal, raising over £1.5m for the third consecutive year. The funds will be distributed to three United Kingdom organizations: Centrepoint, Depaul UK, and the No Accommodation Network (Naccom). Centrepoint and Naccom intend to use donations toward developing their work to provide shelter and support services to various groups experiencing homelessness, while Depaul UK plans to promote and expand its Nightstop network, which organizes more than 600 volunteer hosts across the UK who regularly open up their spare rooms to provide short stay emergency shelter for homeless young people.
“This is an incredible sum to have raised. On behalf of all the young homeless we work with, I would like to thank everyone who has donated for their great kindness,” said Ian Brady, Depaul UK’s interim chief executive.
Read the article here.
The Youth Assessment Prioritization (YAP) Tool
Kathleen Burns of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness provides an overview of a new tool that helps workers in the homelessness service sector make guided decisions to prevent youth homelessness. The Youth Assessment Prioritization (YAP) Tool is a strength-based assessment of youth experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness. The tool aims to determine the level of risk of long-term homelessness that the youth is facing, as well as identifying their positive attributes, skills, and goals. The three communities participating in the Making the Shift project will use the YAP tool to assist in facilitating their intake, assessment, and referral processes.
Read the blog here.
HUD Awards $2 Billion to Homelessness Programs Across the U.S.
This week, Secretary Ben Carson announced that The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded over two billion dollars to support over 7,300 local homelessness assistance programs across the county. HUD’s Continuum of Care funding supports a broad array of initiatives designed to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness, particularly those living on the street or relying on temporary accommodation.
“We know how to end homelessness and it starts with embracing a housing-first approach that relies upon proven strategies that offer permanent housing solutions to those who may otherwise be living in our shelters and on our streets,” stated Carson.
Read the release from HUD here. Read comments on HUD’s award by Matthew Doherty, Executive Director of the US Interagency Council on Homelessness, here.