How Health Systems and Hospitals Can Help Solve Homelessness
Homelessness is a public health crisis that health systems and hospitals have both short-and long-term roles in addressing in ways that benefit patients, providers, and systems. This guidance is intended to help health systems and hospitals more effectively, collaboratively, and compassionately care for people experiencing homelessness. It is also applicable for people working in health more broadly, including public health departments, providers, and researchers.
The following six strategies advance All In: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, and for each strategy, this guidance provides practical resources for implementation:
- Deliver Care Outside Traditional Medical Facilities
- Partner With Non-Health Organizations
- Improve Data Systems and Data-Sharing on Housing and Homelessness
- Promote Supportive and Affordable Housing
- Engage in Homelessness Prevention
- Advance Health Equity
To inform this guidance, USICH reviewed the current literature and conducted more than a dozen interviews on health system and hospital efforts to help solve homelessness. USICH would like to thank our partners that provided feedback, including people who have experienced homelessness, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing.
Click to read the full guidance.