20.11.2018 Views

The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Hous<strong>in</strong>g) Program, which comb<strong>in</strong>es HCV rental assistance for homeless veterans with<br />

case management and cl<strong>in</strong>ical services provided by the Department <strong>of</strong> Veterans Affairs<br />

(VA). From 2008 to 2015, more than 85,000 HUD-VASH vouchers were awarded. A<br />

review <strong>of</strong> research on permanent supportive hous<strong>in</strong>g showed that this model is effective<br />

<strong>in</strong> reduc<strong>in</strong>g homelessness, <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g hous<strong>in</strong>g stability, and reduc<strong>in</strong>g hospitalizations<br />

and ED use. <strong>The</strong>re are multiple types <strong>of</strong> permanent supportive hous<strong>in</strong>g programs that<br />

can facilitate better health outcomes and promote hous<strong>in</strong>g stability, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Hous<strong>in</strong>g<br />

First, harm reduction, and consumer-driven program designs.<br />

Numerous additional studies have documented that supportive hous<strong>in</strong>g for chronically<br />

homeless <strong>in</strong>dividuals reduces expensive ED usage. A study <strong>in</strong> Oregon revealed a 55%<br />

reduction <strong>in</strong> Medicaid claims for <strong>in</strong>dividuals 1 year after they obta<strong>in</strong>ed hous<strong>in</strong>g, while<br />

research <strong>in</strong> Chicago showed that hous<strong>in</strong>g and supportive services led to a 29%<br />

reduction <strong>in</strong> hospital days and a 24% reduction <strong>in</strong> ED visits. In addition, the New York<br />

Frequent Users Service Enhancement <strong>in</strong>itiative, which provided supportive hous<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

200 <strong>in</strong>dividuals with frequent jail and shelter stays, documented that 91% <strong>of</strong> participants<br />

rema<strong>in</strong>ed stably housed after 12 months, and annual total costs for crisis medical and<br />

behavioral health care services were reduced by $7,308 per person.<br />

<strong>The</strong> levels and types <strong>of</strong> support services <strong>of</strong>fered are <strong>in</strong>tentionally designed to be flexible<br />

and adaptive to the population be<strong>in</strong>g housed by a given program. <strong>The</strong> variety and extent<br />

<strong>of</strong> the service needs <strong>of</strong> tenants <strong>in</strong> permanent supportive hous<strong>in</strong>g must <strong>in</strong>fluence the<br />

types <strong>of</strong> services provided. Fund<strong>in</strong>g for effective permanent supportive hous<strong>in</strong>g program<br />

delivery should ensure appropriate staff-to-tenant ratios and services. Some tenant<br />

populations (particularly those with special needs) and services are more resource<br />

<strong>in</strong>tensive than others, requir<strong>in</strong>g programs to <strong>in</strong>crease the proportion <strong>of</strong> costs relative to<br />

hous<strong>in</strong>g subsidization and operat<strong>in</strong>g costs. Insufficient resources allocated to supportive<br />

Page 103 <strong>of</strong> 289

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!