MANCHESTER, NH – On September 21 the NH Coalition to End Homelessness released a report detailing the fiscal impact of insufficient housing and medical care for individuals with significant health needs who are experiencing homelessness. This issue brief illustrates the complexities in adequately serving this high need population, the financial implications of not providing adequate care, and some possible solutions to the problem that have seen success in other areas of the country and that could be explored for implementation in New Hampshire.
“This interagency brief reveals a gap in which the needs of those who are homeless and who present with extremely complex physical and mental healthcare challenges are not being met,” said Cathy Kuhn, Ph.D., Director of the NH Coalition to End Homelessness. “Implementing proven and effective solutions that focus on cross-sector collaborations to ensure stability in both housing and in physical and emotional wellness will reduce costs to the community while at the same time improve outcomes among this extremely vulnerable population.”
The brief concludes with recommendations to reduce instances of expensive emergency care, including implementing multi-disciplinary teams of service providers, such as Community Care Teams, to manage complex cases, increasing Supportive Housing Programs, and expanding respite care options.
View the full report below, or online at www.nhceh.org/2016CaseStudy.
The NH Coalition to End Homelessness is a nonprofit organization with the purpose of eliminating the causes of homelessness through research, education, and advocacy. For more information about the NHCEH, visit www.nhceh.org or call 603-641-9441.
