Homeless Patients Face Delayed Hospital Discharges

Such an important discussion of the complex interplay of homelessness and health. Medically-enhanced housing options are evolving to fill gaps, but need to proliferate quickly. Not a stretch to say: Lives are on the line.

This skillfully conducted new study by Lucie Richard and colleagues showed that people experiencing homelessness had high rates of “alternate level of care” hospital bed days. I was honored to write a commentary with Larry Thomas, a member of our NYU Health x Housing Lab’s Speakers Bureau and Peer Network (led by Giselle Routhier, PhD, MSW). These patients not only had social needs but also strikingly high burdens of health needs. Traditional homeless shelters alone won’t solve this issue — solutions such as medical respite paired with well-funded supportive housing with robust health-related services are needed. Full commentary: https://lnkd.in/eUakg84B

Hospitalized patients with a recent experience of homelessness had delayed discharge rates over four times those of matched low-income peers, with longer ALC stays. https://ja.ma/3TDZMD2

Qualitative findings: Street-based HCV care improved health engagement among adults experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Strong relationships and tailored support helped overcome barriers to cure. #HepatitisC https://ja.ma/3T2GIhS

For the first time since 2018, California has seen a decline in homelessness—down 2.8% year over year and among the largest decreases in the nation. Healthcare in Action has helped over 2,000 people improve their housing status. We're proud to be part of the solution, bringing medical care directly to people experiencing homelessness and helping connect them to the services that support long-term stability, health, and housing. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gSrZrJEA #HealthcareInAction #StreetMedicine #HomelessnessSolutions #WholePersonCare #HousingIsHealthcare #CaliforniaCare

HUD’s 2025 AHAR provides national, state, and Continuum of Care estimates across overall, chronic, veteran, family, and youth homelessness, creating a common reference point for comparing where conditions are improving and where they are not. https://lnkd.in/eHa-H8DN #Homelessness #AHAR #HousingData

The VA healthcare system has proven instrumental in addressing veteran homelessness. By leveraging dedicated funding and implementing a housing-first policy, the system has successfully identified and provided assistance to veterans experiencing homelessness. This approach prioritizes stable housing as the foundational step towards comprehensive care and support. This strategy highlights the impact of focused policy and resource allocation in tackling critical societal issues. #VeteransAffairs #Homelessness #HousingFirst #HealthcarePolicy #VeteranSupport

Didn't see much media pick-up for this yesterday, but such an important House of Commons Committee report on Black people's experiences of homelessness. The report draws on the Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research (I-SPHERE)'s Homelessness, Race and Ethnicity research programme; and evidence from a number of other Oak partners, including Crisis and New Horizon Youth Centre. As the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee said: “During its inquiry, the Committee heard shocking oral evidence of discrimination in the housing sector. The Government must introduce specific steps to tackle racism and racial bias." The (new) government has until 15th September to provide the committee with a response to their findings - it'll make interesting reading.

Racial inequality in the homelessness system lacks recognition and there is an absence of specific measures to address it in the Government's National Plan to End Homelessness. The Women and Equalities Committee has published a report on Black people's experiences of homelessness. Black people are almost four times more likely to experience homelessness than White people. Evidence to the Committee also showed that Black-led households are much more likely than White-led households to experience forms of "hidden homelessness". Read our recommendations on how we think Government should tackle this issue: https://lnkd.in/eBdknAup

Housing advocates say the conversation around homelessness is changing—and so are their strategies. This article explores why advocates organized outside a homelessness policy conference, the criminalization policies that drove them to act, and why they believe public engagement matters now more than ever. Read more: https://bit.ly/3QyUtUD #Homelessness #HousingJustice #CommunityDevelopment