Join Our Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day Twitter Chat Tomorrow: #NoMoreHomelessDeath

Please join the National Health Care for the Homeless Council from 1-2 p.m. CT tomorrow on Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day (HPMD) for a Twitter chat on housing, health care, and human rights. Each year on December 21, the Council, our National Consumer Advisory Board, and the National Coalition for the Homeless join communities across the U.S. to honor people who have died without housing while renewing our resolve to end homelessness. It’s not too late to join or host an event: get started with our HPMD resources, HPMD Public Statement and Advocacy Agenda, and Organizing Manual, or find local events. And don’t forget to join our Twitter chat tomorrow from 1-2 p.m. CT by tweeting with the hashtag #NoMoreHomelessDeath. Contact Consumer Advocate Katherine Cavanaugh for more information.

Take Action to Urge Congress to Address the Health Center Funding Cliff

Now is the time to move Congress to fix the Health Center Funding Cliff! HCH programs depend on Health Center funding to provide high-quality, comprehensive care to people without homes, but drastic cuts will take effect in January unless Congress renews this funding. We ask everyone to take action to demand that Congress address this issue! Get involved with easy tools from our partners at the National Association of Community Health Centers and the Council’s talking points. Stay informed on policy developments by signing up for our Mobilizer action alert, and find tips on caring for yourself as you continue the struggle for health care justice in a recent issue guest-written by esteemed author and advocate Matt Bennett.

HCH2018 & Spring Virtual Training Registration Opening Soon

Stay tuned in January to learn how to register for our upcoming 2018 National HCH Conference & Policy Symposium and 2018 Spring Virtual Training! Exploring “Working Together for Community,” HCH2018 will convene hundreds of providers, consumers, administrators, and advocates working at the intersection of homelessness and health care from May 15-18 in Minneapolis, MN. Focusing upon responding to crises, our Spring Virtual Training will offer intensive online trainings including a track on disaster preparedness, response, and trauma that will highlight the experience and resiliency of HCH programs impacted by recent natural disasters. Sessions will examine smoking in public housing, clinical responses to the hepatitis A outbreak in southern California, effective ways to engage shelters in health care enrollment and outreach, and more.

Quick Guide Explores How Health Centers Can Create a Culture of Safety

The National HCH Council’s National Consumer Advisory Board (NCAB) has worked with clinicians and administrators across the United States to develop a guide to Creating a Culture of Safety at Health Centers. In 2016, NCAB conducted a Consumer Participation Outreach Survey to determine what made consumers feel safe at our health centers. Responding to these findings, this publication discusses recommendations for developing physical spaces that promote well-being, considerations for vulnerable populations, and strategies for providing for staff support. Read the guide.

New Publication Explores Housing & Health Partnerships for Older Individuals in Supportive Housing

The Council has collaborated with the Corporation for Supportive Housing to release a new project profile showcasing “Health & Housing Partnerships for Older Adults: Aging in Place in Supportive Housing.” This publication spotlights the efforts of Seattle-King County’s Housing Health Outreach Team (Seattle, WA) and NYU-Lutheran Family Health Centers Woodstock Hotel Clinic (New York, NY) to meet the needs of older individuals experiencing homelessness. Their comprehensive care teams and cross-system collaboration have allowed these communities to successfully adapt their practice for people aging in supportive housing and without homes. Read the profile and view our other resources on Permanent Supportive Housing.

APHA 2018 Annual Meeting & Expo Call for Abstracts Open

The American Public Health Association is now accepting abstracts for the APHA 2018 Annual Meeting & Expo. The theme of the meeting is “Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health Equity Now.” The Caucus on Homelessness looks forward to highlighting issues related to the theme as well as broader issues related to this framework in the context of the vulnerable and marginalized groups we work with. Suggested topics and more details for those interested in submitting to the Caucus on Homelessness can be found here, or through apha.org. Submit an abstract by Feb. 22, 2018, or contact Program Planner Brett Poe via email or phone at (615) 226-2292 with any questions.

HCH Careers: New Executive Assistant Position Open at NHCHC and Other Postings

The Council is seeking to hire a new Executive Assistant. This position will support the CEO and Senior Director of Administration by performing various administrative duties. Apply by December 31, 2017. Additionally, visit our Careers page to view job postings from across the HCH field including calls for a Behavioral Health Specialist at West County Health Centers in Guerneville, CA; a Patient Scheduling Clerk and Registered Nurse at Unity Health Care in Washington, D.C.; and a Project Coordinator at the Tennessee Primary Care Association in Nashville, TN. We invite Organizational Members to submit their postings for the page, which attracts nearly 6,500 views a year. Contact Communications Assistant Jenn Dix with any questions.