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| Council Celebrates Successful 2016 Conference
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The National Health Care for the Homeless Council gives thanks to the attendees, presenters, and exhibitors who helped make the 2016 Conference one of our best yet. #HCH2016 welcomed 998 attendees from 44 states and 126 Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) programs, including 99 of our organizational members. Additionally, a record-breaking 70+ consumers attended #HCH2016, including 49 subsidy recipients—many of whom were able to attend due to the generous assistance of Trinity Health. From the keynote presentations of national authorities Dr. David Satcher and Dr. Paul S. Harkaway to the more than 90 sessions in health care and homelessness from 200 presenters, the 2016 Conference offered a singular perspective on the HCH field. View session materials from #HCH2016 on our website, and please save the date for our 2016 Fall Regional Training from September 22-23, 2016, in Louisville, KY!
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| New Policy Brief Addresses Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction
“Medication-Assisted Treatment: Buprenorphine in the HCH Community” is the subject of a recent policy brief from the National HCH Council. Heroin and prescription drug overdoses have reached epidemic levels, and for people without homes the situation is even more severe. To help address this crisis, this new publication identifies challenges to treatment and recommendations for both clinical practice and public policy change needed to increase access to care. The Council hopes that this information can help prevent further deaths from opioid addiction, inform clinical and community responses to this issue, and promote a more seamless integration of addiction treatment with primary care services. A soon-to-be-announced Council webinar will further examine this subject.
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| Recent Publication Brings Advance Care Planning for People Without Homes In Focus
The Council’s latest In Focus: A Quarterly Research Review considers “ Advance Care Planning for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness.” By 2050, an estimated 95,000 older adults will be without homes, and they will confront high disease and mortality rates. Advance care planning (ACP) can play a critical role for this population in preventing unnecessary suffering and supporting individuals’ preferences for palliative and end-of-life care. This literature review examines that subject, shedding light on current aging, disease, and mortality trends of people without homes, exploring their concerns about death and preferences for advanced care, and noting implications for policy and practice to better meet the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness.
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| New Fact Sheet Examines Infectious Diseases in People Experiencing Homelessness
A new resource from the National HCH Council addresses the “ Prevention & Response to Infectious Diseases Within the Homeless Population.” Recent measles, zika, and ebola outbreaks have underscored the need for effective community emergency response plans, but many plans developed by health and government agencies do not address the unique circumstances of people experiencing homelessness. This fact sheet highlights communicable diseases in that population, addressing challenges in these public health issues while providing strategies and tools that can be used to prevent and respond to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Read the fact sheet, or learn more on our Communicable Diseases page.
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| Upcoming Webinar to Examine Hospital Community Health Benefit Funding and HCH
UnitedHealthcare and the National HCH Council will present a webinar on hospital community benefit funding as it applies to the HCH community from 2-3 p.m. ET on July 12, 2016. To qualify for tax exemptions as charitable organizations, not-for-profit hospitals are required to engage in activities that aid their communities. “Hospital Community Benefit Funding: Potential Resources to Meet the Needs of Homeless Populations” will provide an overview of such funding and its requirements, sharing advice for maximizing hospital partnerships with HCH organizations and providing examples of two successful partnerships currently in practice in two states. The webinar will complement an upcoming policy brief. Registration for this event will open soon.
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| Council Launching New Mobile-Friendly Website
The National HCH Council is proud to unveil our newly redesigned website. The Council is launching an enhanced, mobile-friendly design for www.nhchc.org to provide the best possible experience for our visitors. The new design features a modern, intuitive layout and large, high-contrast type to help you view our resources easily from your desktop, tablet, or phone. New features include an updated news section to help you browse our latest developments at a glance, as well as a redesigned footer to help you quickly connect with and stay informed about the Council. We’re excited about our new design—and we hope you will be, too! If you have any questions or comments, please contact us.
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| Council Recognizes Summer Solstice Celebration
On June 21, the National HCH Council honored the Summer Solstice Celebration, affirming our continuing mission to eliminate homelessness while celebrating the strength, resilience, and spirit of individuals who have overcome barriers to obtain stable housing. Several HCH organizations including Care for the Homeless, Camillus Health Concern, and Health Care for the Homeless—Baltimore held events for the celebration, which serves as a unique complement to Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, a yearly event on the Winter Solstice (December 21) which honors individuals who have lost their lives while enduring the tragedy of homelessness. View our Summer Solstice Celebration page to learn how organizations are celebrating this growing event—and how you can host your own in 2017.
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