Access to Housing for Health Pilot Project

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The Access to Housing for Health (AHH) Project seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of the frequent homeless users of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) hospital system. AHH participants are provided with permanent, affordable housing linked to intensive care management services, so that they may better manage their chronic health conditions and decrease their use of expensive in patient and emergency medical services. AHH is a partnership between DHS, the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission (CDC), the Los Angeles County Housing Authority (HACLA) and Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles. The CDC and the HACLA both committed 50 Section 8 vouchers to AHH. In addition, the CDC committed 15 Public Housing units, for a grand total of 115 available slots. AHH participants receive emergency housing, assistance with housing applications, first and last month’s rent and housing location services. They are also provided with coordinated access to primary medical care, specialty care, mental health care, alcohol/substance abuse treatment and other supportive services. HHCLA continues to provide case management for an additional 12 months post permanent housing placement to ensure participants have the support needed to retain housing.