Fact Sheets

The National Health Care for the Homeless Council’s fact sheets answer frequent questions about homelessness, medical respite care, policy, and research. Use them with new staff and volunteers, during governing board orientation, meetings with your legislators, as part of your agency’s press kit, or with your community partners and collaborators.

A snapshot of factors in Region 2 that affect health with some general information about Morristown, New Jersey. This fact sheet was developed in conjunction with planning for the Northeast Regional Training, May 9 & 10, 2012.

A snapshot of factors in Region 10 that affect health with some general information about Seattle, Washington. This fact sheet was developed in conjunction with planning for the Seattle Regional Training, July 12 & 13, 2012.

A snapshot of factors in Region 7 that affect health with some general information about Kansas City, Missouri. This fact sheet was developed in conjunction with planning for the 2012 National Health Care for the Homeless Conference & Policy Symposium.

A one-page resource for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment resources available through the National HCH Council’s website.

A snapshot of factors in Region 5 that affect health. Developed in conjunction with planning for our Detroit Regional Training in September 2011.

History, financing, and requirements of the health care for the homeless program. Use to educate community and government leaders about our program.

Since 1997, the National HCH Council has provided training and technical assistance to consolidated health centers and other organizations through a cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). In 2010, the Council conducted a knowledge and skills needs assessment to help focus its work with the HCH field. Several hundred administrators, clinicians, and consumers affiliated with HCH grantees and medical respite programs participated in the three-stage process of key informant interviews, focus groups, and online and paper surveys.

Harm reduction is an approach for substance use treatment that involves a set of practical techniques that are openly negotiated with clients around what is most likely to be achieved.

Medical respite care meets the post-hospital recuperative care needs for people who are homeless while reducing public costs associated with frequent hospital utilization.

Hospital collaboration is essential to the success of medical respite programs. Hospitals are a source of patient referrals, data collection, and income for medical respite programs. In return, hospitals receive significant cost savings by avoiding inpatient stays and reducing readmission rates.

Many people are reduced to homelessness in a downward cycle that begins with a health problem and rapidly escalates into employment problems, financial problems, and housing problems.

An outline of the National Council’s mission, activities and how donations support our work.

Defines single payer, compares the US to other countries on key health status indicators, examines myths vs. facts.