Managing a chronic illness while homeless can be an impossible challenge. This was the case for Rosa Williams, 60, who was living in her car while trying to manage stage 3 kidney disease and diabetes. “I went from living with my son to [living in] a hotel, and then I ran out of money and got very sick,” said Williams. “Just imagine me living in a car and being really sick with all my medications. It was horrible.”

Chronic homelessness is linked to poor health outcomes and higher risk of mortality. People experiencing homelessness often experience trauma on the street or in shelters, which creates long-standing adverse impacts. Having safe, stable housing is essential to a person’s health. Without a safe place to call home, it’s nearly impossible to focus on basic health and medical needs.

Fortunately, Kaiser Permanente’s care team referred Rosa to its Project HOME initiative. Project HOME uses a “Housing First” approach, which prioritizes giving people experiencing homelessness – particularly those with acute needs – stable, permanent housing without preconditions. Once housed, they are then connected with the social services, mental health, or substance use disorder services that they need.

Read the full article about housing first and health by Vanessa Davis and Ann Oliva at National Alliance to End Homelessness.