LAC+USC Medical Center Street to Home Project

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Los Angeles County partnered with the University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Medical Center to introduce an innovative health program. Named the Street to Home Project, it’s primary goal is to provide outreach, engagement and eventual placement in supported, permanent housing for a target population of unsheltered, chronically homeless and vulnerable individuals living on and around the campus of the LAC+USC hospital as part of a greater strategy to promote change related to the help-seeking behaviors of high utilizing individuals of LA County public hospital resources, primarily Emergency Departments (ED). This project was initiated in October 2010 by a collaborative group of community partners under the leadership of the Board of Supervisors First Supervisorial District (First District), Department of Health Services (DHS), and Department of Mental Health (DMH) who were concerned about the need to address this ongoing, shared problem (see below) . The program was designed to enhance and improve cost effective services previously delivered in LAC+USC EDs by redirecting 40 homeless individuals to Exodus Urgent Care Center where integrated treatment of physical health, mental health and substance abuse issues is provided and linkage to ongoing primary and mental health care facilitated. Team members assist clients with housing and in the development of essential community supports intended to foster reintegration, improve housing retention and enhance recovery. Overall the population of unsheltered homeless living on the LAC+USC campus has decreased and a culture of change has been introduced to this population and the hospital staff.