Better Health through Housing links the health care and supportive housing worlds to work together to end homelessness and improve health outcomes for people.
Provided housing interventions for 91 people total throughout Chicago
Brought together 28 supportive housing agencies
UI Health project saw a 57% reduction in inpatient stays among BHH participants
UI Health project saw emergency department utilization decreased by 67% among BHH participants
Our Projects
University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System
Served and provided housing interventions for 96% of referred patients who were experiencing homelessness and frequent visitors to the Emergency Department. Plans are set to serve up to 40 more patients.
City of Chicago
Served and housed 15 residents of the North-side viaducts under Lake Shore Drive who utilized Heartland Health Outreach’s Northside health center.
Swedish Covenant Hospital
With funding from their Foundation Board, Swedish Covenant Hospital plans to refer 10 patients who frequently utilize their emergency Department, are disabled and also experiencing chronic homelessness. The goal is to improve the health status of patients by encouraging their connection to a medical home for continuity of care and contain costs by reducing Emergency Department utilization.
Rush University Medical Center
To increase positive health outcomes among frequent utilizers of the emergency department and inpatient hospital units, Rush University Medical Center plans to refer at least 5 patients for housing. Hospital social workers are convening an interdisciplinary team to identify patients for the program.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (NMHC) is committed to improving the health of the communities we serve. In an effort to address underlying social determinants of health and improve the health of our patients, NMHC’s Innovations in Managing Patients across Care Transitions (IMPACT) has collaborated with the Center for Housing and Health to launch a housing pilot. IMPACT is a community of care transition programs dedicated to NMHC’s patients first mission and striving to proactively address the needs of our most medically and psychosocially complex patients by providing transitions across the healthcare continuum. Through the pilot with CHH, eligible patients in IMPACT will be provided with supportive housing, ongoing case management, and additional supportive services.How We Work
Identification & Referral
Patients identified as using hospital resources frequently, living with chronic health conditions are referred to the Center for Housing and Health.
Outreach
After reviewing each referral, the Center for Housing and Health identifies individuals who are eligible for the program and outreach team members connect with potential participants.
Bridge Housing & Apartment Search
The outreach team assists participants as the move into temporary housing and participants begin working with a case manager to search for permanent housing.
Move-In
After locating an apartment that fits the needs and wants of the client, the case manager works with them to help acquire everything they need to live comfortably and move into their new home.
Ongoing Supportive Case Management
Clients continue working with a case manager to address their various health and wellness goals through: home visits, linkage to Primary Care Physicians and so much more. BHH also holds bi-weekly Systems Integration Team (SIT) meetings with care coordinators, hospital staff, a project coordinator, street outreach workers and housing case managers to streamline patient placement into appropriate housing, address issues that may impact housing stability and focus on patient health outcomes.
Partner Organizations
