PRELIMINARY IMPACT OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ON HOSPITAL UTILIZATION FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Health Economics

Background:

• Housing instability is linked to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, increasing healthcare utilization.
• Maryland Medicaid 1115 Health Choice Waiver facilitated a program addressing homelessness in Baltimore.
• Hospitals, the city, and a nonprofit partnered to provide housing and services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the inception and expansion of a housing and wraparound services program.
• To evaluate the impact of this program on healthcare utilization among participants.

Main Methods:

• Program inception involving 10 Baltimore city hospitals, the city, and Health Care for the Homeless.
• Expansion driven by hospital investment.
• Analysis of hospital and emergency department visit reductions pre- and post-enrollment.

Main Results:

• Participants experienced a 48% reduction in overall hospital visits.
• Emergency department visits decreased by 51% in the 12 months post-housing.
• These outcomes were observed in individuals at risk of homelessness.

Conclusions:

• Permanent housing coupled with supportive services can significantly decrease healthcare utilization.
• This intervention model shows promise for improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
• Investing in housing as a healthcare intervention is a viable strategy.