Public Health Initiatives and Funding

Health Care for the Homeless Network

Poor health is both a cause and a consequence of homelessness. Homeless people suffer health problems at rates that are three to six times higher than people with stable housing. As part of the City of Seattle’s efforts to end homelessness and build a healthy community for all, health services for homeless people are an essential investment.

The City helps to fund a network called Health Care for the Homeless, which is administered by Public Health – Seattle & King County. This network of community health centers, public health centers, mental health agencies, substance abuse programs and Harborview Medical Center identifies medical health, mental health and substance abuse problems and links people to the care they need.

Services include nurses, case managers, and counselors in selected shelters and day centers, health services in long-term supportive housing, clinics for homeless youth, dental and vision care, respite beds for those needing a place to recuperate from illnesses, assistance enrolling in Medicaid, health-focused case management, health education and communicable disease prevention.

Services extend into finding long-term supportive housing for those needing to maintain their health and manage chronic health problems such as diabetes or asthma.

In 2008, the City collaborated with Public Health - Seattle & King County to link homeless persons to needed health care. This team, the Housing Health Outreach Team, will provide chronically homeless persons with health assessment, patient advocacy, referral/linkage to primary care, health education and support. With funding from other sources, the team also offers substance abuse treatment and mental health counseling. In 2009, the City has committed $1,530,284 in General Funds for Health Care for the Homeless, including TB prevention and $77,250 to support outreach to homeless encampments.

Tuberculosis Prevention

Tuberculosis (TB) control is a challenge for homeless people because they tend to live in cramped quarters and many are physically fragile. From 2004-2006, 54 homeless people in Seattle became sick with TB.

The City of Seattle funds a public health nurse at the Health Care for the Homeless Network whose job is to lower the risk of TB transmission in shelters and transitional housing, and teach staff at programs serving homeless people how to identify symptoms and refer clients to medical care. All homeless shelters and transitional housing programs that receive funding from the City of Seattle work with the Health Care for the Homeless Network to prevent TB and other communicable diseases.

Consistent with our goal to end homelessness, we arrange for long-term housing for homeless people who have recovered from TB treatment.

The City of Seattle has supported Public Health - Seattle & King County with General Funds for the Health Care for the Homeless program since 1996. Over the years, the network has continued to develop multidisciplinary care, incorporate evidence-based practices into daily work, and build more partnerships with housing programs in the effort to end homelessness.

Information

For more information about the network and participating agencies, visit the
Health Care for the Homeless Network web site.

For more information about City of Seattle public health programs and services, call 206-684-0684 or e-mail publichealth@seattle.gov.

For information about related programs, visit:

• Center for Disease Control – TB Facts
• Committee to End Homelessness in King County
• National Health Care for the Homeless web site
• Public Health – Seattle & King County - Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program

Links

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