Mobilizer: Health Care for the Homeless Action Bulletin

Oct. 31, 2024 | Vol. 28 No. 8 | Archives

It's a Scary Time. Take Care of Yourself!

Happy Halloween, Mobilizers! As the election season heats up, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the flood of news and opinions. With just five days until Election Day, we want to keep things simple and focus in on what matters to our community this election. In this edition, we’ll provide some voter resources and an overview of the candidates’ positions on health care. The Closer Look blog entry this month is a reminder to prioritize your well-being during this hectic time! Here's what we have in store for you this month:

Voter Resources
Candidate Comparison on health care and housing
Closer Look blog
- Self-Care Tips and Tricks
- Words of Positivity

Spooky Support for Voters: Find Your Way to the Polls!

Recent polling from Project 538 shows the presidential race is very close, with Vice President Kamala Harris currently with a 1.4% lead over former President Donald Trump. We know many folks have already voted early, but for those who haven’t yet, remember every single vote counts this Tuesday!

Take a minute to review your state’s voting leave policy to ensure you have time to get to the polls. For state-specific election information on polling locations, registration status, and ballot specific issues, visit Vote.org. And remember, unhoused individuals have the right to vote! Check out the Council’s website for a full list of voter resources, including information on how to exercise your right to vote, early voter information, and voting locations.

Health Care and Housing Haunts:
A Candidate Comparison to Lift the Shadows

On Oct. 1, vice presidential candidates Minn. Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance met for their first (and only) debate (see the full debate here). During the event watched by 45 million people, candidates were cordial and discussed a range of policy topics. On the healthcare front, they took starkly different stances with Vance delving a bit deeper into the campaigns' “concepts of a plan” and Walz discussing the history and importance of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

So, what do we actually know about the candidates' proposals?

Harris-Walz Campaign: A New Way Forward

The Harris-Walz campaign has outlined their policy plans in their ‘A New Way Forward’ platform and throughout various speeches during the election cycle. Major housing and healthcare takeaways include:

Expanding the Affordable Care Act: The plan commits to protecting the ACA and proposes to make the Inflation Reduction Act enhanced tax credits for ACA marketplace plans permanent. These tax credits helped improve premium affordability and expand eligibility for tax credits to more households.
Housing Affordability: Regrettably, the plan does not include specifics on addressing homelessness. This is particularly concerning for our community; however, it does propose investments in affordable housing, such as:
- Expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to help developers cover upfront costs and expand the rental supply by 1.2 million new affordable homes.
- Creating a $40 billion local innovation fund for state and local governments to invest in innovative ways to expand the supply of affordable houses and rental homes.
Medicaid Expansion: The Harris-Walz platform does not outline specific Medicaid proposals. Instead, it references the Biden-Harris administration’s success helping states expand Medicaid coverage and acknowledges more needs to be done to ensure health care is affordable for all Americans. Harris has previously supported expanding Medicaid coverage, closing the coverage gap, and streamlining enrollment.
- The written platform does propose to relieve medical debt for Americans, particularly low-income families, by working with states to help them enter into agreements with health providers.
Substance Use Disorder: The platform commits to tackling the opioid crisis by standing up to drug traffickers and helping individuals get the treatment they need, expanding on some of the work done under the Biden-Harris administration to reduce barriers to medications for opioid use disorder.

Trump-Vance Campaign: Agenda 47

The Trump-Vance campaign has taken a markedly different approach, with ‘Agenda 47' focused on new affordable health care and prescription drug options and addressing homelessness. The Republican platform policies include:

Replacing the Affordable Care Act: Trump has reaffirmed his intention to dismantle the ACA, aligning with his previous attempts to do so in 2017 which were unsuccessful. This is not written into the platform but was mentioned by Trump during the presidential debate. The platform does mention increasing healthcare transparency, promoting choice and competition, and expanding access to new Affordable Healthcare options.
“Ending the Nightmare of the Homeless, Drug Addicts, and Dangerously Deranged”: Trump has proposed to ban encampments, forcing individuals who violate the ban to either receive treatment or face arrest. Under this plan, individuals who agree to treatment will be relocated to tent cities developed on large parcels of land where they will bring in doctors, psychiatrists, and social workers. This is particularly concerning as it emphasizes criminalization of homelessness and goes against the Housing First model. Listen to Trump speak more about his plan here.
- On housing affordability, the plan proposes to open limited amounts of federal lands for new home construction, provide tax incentives to first-time buyers and cut regulations that raise housing costs.
Medicaid: The Trump-Vance campaign hasn’t taken an official stance on Medicaid, but the former president’s record shows a pattern of plans to cap and reduce Medicaid financing, limit Medicaid eligibility, and add work requirements that would make it harder to obtain coverage.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, neither campaign’s proposals include the comprehensive details needed to fully understand the potential impact on people experiencing homelessness and the healthcare providers who serve them. However, the policies put forth do reveal fundamentally different approaches. Harris seeks to expand access and protections within existing frameworks, emphasizing affordability and comprehensive support. In contrast, Trump seeks to dismantle established systems in favor of market-driven solutions and enforcement-heavy strategies. For a more in-depth breakdown on the candidate’s health care stances, check out this guide from Kaiser Family Foundation.

Related Reading:

Vance-Walz Debate Highlighted Clear Health Policy Differences | KFF Health News
Where the Candidates Stand on Drug Policy | Drug Policy Action
Trump and Harris offer starkly different visions for how to end homelessness | Boston Globe

Harris and Trump photos courtesy of Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Sprawling green pumpkin patch at sunrise

The Pumpkin Patch of Self-Care: Harvesting Well-Being During Elections

By Laura Brennan, Senior Policy Manager

As the election approaches, the flurry of news, debates, and social media updates can leave many of us feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious. To help navigate this challenging time, I reached out to NHCHC staff for their favorite self-care strategies, hoping to inspire you and provide ideas to share with loved ones. During periods of high stress, it’s essential to proactively plan how to prioritize your mental health. Just like exploring a pumpkin patch, take your time to sift through this guide and select the self-care tips that resonate most with you and your unique needs.

Proactively Plan Activities: One recommendation is to create a personalized “go-to” list of activities to help manage emotions, drawing on a resource originally developed by psychologist Dr. Joanna Fava during the pandemic. The list includes various activities and helpful websites that are categorized into two groups: those for higher and lower emotions. That way, when you feel upset, you can easily reference activities that help support your current emotional state. As Alexandra Kirade, Senior Grants Manger, shared, “I taped it on my fridge during the pandemic and over time made my own shorter list of activities that are realistic for me in times of higher or lower emotions. An actionable list helps me to take care of myself.” She recommends choosing three go-to activities that can support you; that way you’ll have a quick reference when you need it most. Find Dr. Fava’s resource here. Additionally, our Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion team compiled this list of self-care and mental health resources that has various websites, social media accounts, and podcasts that may be helpful, including specific resources by and for BIPOC individuals.
Limit the Doomscrolling: Let’s face it — with the ease of access to social media and the influx of news content during election time, doomscrolling can be hard to resist. Staying up to date is important but try to limit how much time you spend reading the news and checking social media every day. Caitlin Synovec, our Assistant Director of Medical Respite Care, suggests to “remove social media apps and replace them with distractions.” Engaging in word games or immersing yourself in a good book can fill those “waiting” times and keep your mind off the constant news cycle. Allot yourself a set amount of time to check the news (maybe 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes after work). If checking for updates before bed makes you feel overwhelmed and affects your sleep, check only in the morning to help keep your evenings more peaceful.
Embrace Activism: For those of us who thrive on activism and find it difficult to completely unplug, getting involved can be a healthy outlet for stress. Lindsey Turner, our Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications, noted, “I try to ramp up the time I spend volunteering or making political art... it gives me a place to channel my anxiety.” Engaging in community efforts not only helps combat feelings of helplessness but also fosters connections with like-minded individuals.
Maintain Consistent Routines: Daily routines have enormous benefits to mental health and overall happiness. “In high-stress times — it’s really about consistency with my routines,” said Christa Signor, our Medical Respite Manager. “Specifically as it relates to getting outside — running, what I eat, the rest I’m getting, and connecting with those I care about.” Developing a sustainable routine you can depend on during challenging periods can help ease your mind and lift your mood. A few colleagues noted the benefits of incorporating outdoor time into their schedules, whether it’s a hike, a run, or just sitting in a park. Taking a few moments each day to get outside and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature can provide a sense of calm.
Engage in Creative Activities: Channeling your creativity can also be a great escape. Whether it’s crafting, painting, or picking up a new hobby, engaging your creative side can be both fulfilling and therapeutic. Tracey Perger, Accounting Coordinator, says, “There are so many fun projects to distract from the worries of this world and then the final result can be something beautiful for myself or a gift for someone I love.” Even if you’re don’t consider yourself crafty, creative outlets are a great way to channel emotions and can be as simple as adult coloring books or diamond painting.
Find Your Calm: The stress and uncertainty of election season can leave us feeling overwhelmed with energy, completely drained, or somewhere in between. To manage these feelings, finding calm through grounding rituals or creative outlets can significantly help with stress. Kevonya Elzia, Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), shared, “I rage dance if I need to expel energy or do a basic yoga routine if I need to ground.” Consider experimenting with different activities, like yoga, meditation, or even a soothing foot bath with herbs and Epsom salts —whatever helps you feel more centered and relaxed.
Connect with Loved Ones: Never underestimate the power of human connection. Numerous colleagues expressed the importance of taking time to connect with loved ones. Whether through a phone call, lunch, or a cozy movie night, spending time with those we care about can bring comfort and lift our spirits during tough times. However, for those navigating relationships with loved ones who hold differing political beliefs, this time may be especially difficult. One helpful suggestion is to set boundaries by letting them know you would love to connect but prefer to avoid discussion about the election. Ultimately, it’s essential to ensure connections feel safe and supportive.
Seek Professional Support: Lastly, consider reaching out to a therapist if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Finding a good mental health provider can be life changing, not just during election season but throughout any time in life. It’s critical to find a provider who meets all your requirements and not settling. It may be an arduous process but finding a therapist who makes you feel comfortable and fits your needs can make a world of difference. If you’re looking to find a new therapist, check out this search tool from Psychology Today.

These eight strategies are just a starting point; remember to do what works best for you and something that can be integrated into your daily life to help you stay grounded and resilient. By taking care of ourselves and ensuring our own cups are full, we’re better equipped to support one another and engage meaningfully with the world around us. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup!

Visit the Closer Look Blog

New Resources

Review of Local Homeless Mortality Efforts: A Call for Standardized Data and Reporting Published paper by Meehan, Ashley A. MPH; King, Ben T. PhD, MPH; Biggs, Rachel MA; Boyer, Alaina P. PhD; Berner-Davis, Lauryn MPH, MSW; DiPietro, Barbara PhD
National Alliance to End Homelessness: New Insights on How Americans View Homelessness Summary of Public Opinion Polling on Homelessness, June 2024
SAMSHA: Use of High-Dose Buprenorphine for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Listening Session Report

What (Else) We're Reading

Laura Brennan
Senior Policy Manager
National Health Care for the Homeless Council

lbrennan@nhchc.org

Your support is crucial!
All our advocacy work — including this newsletter! — is funded by dues from NHCHC's members and private donations. Consider joining the Council or donating to support this work!