Senior Whole Health’s Post

Could medical respite programs be the key to closing the health care to homelessness pipeline? "We live in a country where not everyone believes that access to health care is a human right; not everyone believes that access to housing is a human right; not everyone believes that housing is health care. And I think that those three things are linked together and are some of the important ingredients to have when closing the hospital to homelessness pipeline,” says Devora Keller of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. Learn how medical respite programs are transforming care for unhoused people by offering them a safe and secure place to heal. https://lnkd.in/eS5qagRE #MedicalRespitePrograms #HealthCareForAll #HousingIsHealth

Extreme heat, defined as more than two days in a row above 90 degrees, can cause health problems for anyone, but it’s especially dangerous for people who are vulnerable already: children and older adults; people with pre-existing conditions and disabilities; people who experience homelessness, work outdoors, are incarcerated, or are low-income. For community health centers, which focus on caring for the country’s most vulnerable, heat-related care, outreach, and education are already integral to the services they provide. It’s not a question of learning the impacts or even developing new solutions, but of carrying on and expanding the work they already do. National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) https://lnkd.in/d9shPnPx

An eye-opening article from California Healthline highlights the heartbreaking reality faced by San Francisco's homeless population amid ongoing street sweeps. As frontline workers strive to provide care, essential documents and medications are being lost, pushing individuals further away from the stability and support they desperately need. These disruptive sweeps, ordered by local leaders and supported by state mandates, are displacing people while also severely impacting their mental and physical health. Instead of connecting individuals to services and housing, these actions are perpetuating cycles of homelessness and undermining crucial healthcare efforts, including CalAIM services designed to offer long-term solutions. Read the full article to understand the human cost of these policies and the work being done by dedicated street medicine providers who are fighting to restore hope and health in these communities. https://lnkd.in/gyMSbhzd

#Homelessness presents a pressing public health emergency, carrying potentially fatal outcomes that are preventable. Keeping people in their homes, steering clear of eviction proceedings, shelters, and streets demands a unified effort from state, local, and federal policymakers, alongside the faith community, business sector, and philanthropy.   By advocating for stronger, more coordinated systems that provide stable housing, we have the power to make a difference and ensure everyone has a place to call home. #endhomelessness Learn more: https://bit.ly/4cFPBTL

Check out this The Dallas Morning News Op-ed by Sarah Kahn of Housing Forward. In it, she discusses how the All Neighbors Coalition has been able to rehouse more than 10,100 people over the last 3 years. This is not happening in most other major cities, but we must continue our pace through a $30 million public-private investment in housing and services, paired with expanding Housing Forward's Steet-To-Home encampment response. According to Sarah, this is a proven model to reduce homelessness and expedite encampment closures by bringing behavioral health care and rehousing assistance directly onsite at strategic locations. Street-based health care teams, peer specialists, outreach workers and housing providers work daily to support neighbors to move back home, to recover and to stabilize. Over 95% of people engaged say yes to working with us on housing, dispelling a common myth that people living outside are “service resistant.” Let's give it up for Housing Forward and all of our homeless service providers, double down on using these proven tools, and stay the course. Read here: https://bit.ly/4dJgaI3

Neighbourhood working brings together communities and statutory services to improve health and wellbeing. In partnership with Local Trust, we've published case studies with PPL that showcase community-led approaches to health and wellbeing in some of England’s most deprived areas, all united by a commitment to transforming lives 💚 On #WorldHomelessDay, we’re highlighting the work of The Plymouth Alliance, commissioned by Plymouth City Council. It is its whole-person approach which is helping the complex needs of the homeless community in #Plymouth to participate fully in life. The alliance offers housing advice, access to temporary and settled accommodation, and treatment and support for substance abuse, with the primary measure of success being whether someone feels better or worse. In addition: ✅ 149 households have been supported to access privately rented accommodation. ✅ 127 people have accessed night shelter provision. ✅ 111 people have achieved accredited qualifications. ✅ 1,646 people have had structured treatment plans. The seven core service providers are BCHA, Shekinah Mission Plymouth, The Zone Plymouth, Livewell Southwest, Harbour, Path (Plymouth Access to Housing) and Hamoaze. Read more about the alliance's model, challenges and impact in our case study ⤵️ #HealthierNeighbourhoods

My latest blogpost: I look at health and how the uncertainty of experiencing homelessness is destructive to people's health! I look at how housing help creates healthier lives. I look at the importance of outreach workers helping to get people off the streets and into homes, and how that improves people's health. https://lnkd.in/guA4rrHA

News from Annals of Long-Term Care: "A common barrier for the medically frail and terminally ill populations is the inability to work due to their illness. Not being able to pay their rent and various bills can lead to an eviction, starting the cycle of homelessness," said Jillian Olmsted, executive director of The INN Between. Learn more about barriers that terminally ill and homeless patients face when trying to secure long-term care. #AnnalsofLongTermCare #ALTC #LTC #longtermcare #homesshealthcare #terminallyillcare 

Wonderful story in Idaho Business Review on multi-sector collaborative partners working together to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. As stated in the article, “challenges around housing are occurring all across the state of Idaho.” This is consistent with local health assessment results and what we’ve heard collecting data for Idaho’s statewide health assessment. Everyone deserves a safe, affordable home. https://lnkd.in/dAvMe_EP

Unity Health Care stands with our unhoused neighbors in the wake of the Supreme Court's June 28 decision. This ruling, which permits the arrest and fining of individuals without homes for sleeping in public spaces, highlights the critical need for compassionate, comprehensive solutions to homelessness. At Unity, our mission has always been to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare to all, especially those most vulnerable. We began as the Health Care for the Homeless Project nearly 40 years ago, and today, we continue to serve those experiencing homelessness through our shelters, mobile van, and medical respite sites. Criminalizing homelessness does not solve the issue. It exacerbates barriers to healthcare, housing, and safety. Unity joined the amicus curiae brief arguing against punitive measures and advocating for investments in supportive services. We believe in addressing homelessness with empathy and practical support, not with fines and jail time. Let's continue work together to ensure everyone has access to safe, dignified spaces and essential health services. #UnityHealthCare #EndHomelessness #HealthcareForAll #StandWithTheUnhoused #HealthEquity #CommunityCare #SupportNotPunishment