1 minute read
Health & Housing
PATRICIA HERNANDEZ, LCSW • Manager • pah9051@nyp.org
Mission and Goals
Across the country, health systems are increasingly recognizing that social determinants play a large role in an individual’s overall health and wellbeing Both housing instability and poor housing quality are associated with poor health and increased emergency room and inpatient utilization The Division of Community and Population Health looks to address our patients’ needs through a Housing Program, focusing on the following goals: • Improving Hospital and community provider knowledge of housing resources and best practices
• Increasing access to patient housing opportunities by establishing a
Housing Network • Enhancing patient outcomes and the patient experience through a dedicated housing team and medical respite
In 2018, the Housing Program launched a comprehensive Housing Instability Training Series that has reached over 250 NewYork-Presbyterian staff and collaborators The Housing Program has developed relationships with several organizations, such as the CUCS Homeless Outreach Team and Services for the UnderServed’s (SUS) eviction prevention program, Homebase The CUCS Homeless Outreach team receives referrals from inpatient units and emergency departments for patients who report as “chronically street homeless ” The Homeless Outreach Team also visits the NewYorkPresbyterian Allen Hospital and Milstein Hospital emergency departments weekly to engage patients who might be seeking shelter there
Since early 2018, SUS’s Homebase Program has received more than 20 referrals from Ambulatory Care Network social workers for patients and families at risk of facing eviction Several patients have been connected to Homebase resources and are now stably housed
Finally, the Housing Program has begun developing a housing team and medical respite program to serve housinginsecure patients being discharged from our hospital, directing them to longterm housing resources
