1 / 21

Homelessness

Kelly Bennett, MD Medical Director TTUHSC Free Clinic. Homelessness. Definition of Homelessness. Per federal government: “people who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate night time residence” A true residence cannot be administered in a group setting by a government agency or charity.

elda
Download Presentation

Homelessness

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Kelly Bennett, MD Medical Director TTUHSC Free Clinic Homelessness

  2. Definition of Homelessness • Per federal government: • “people who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate night time residence” • A true residence cannot be administered in a group setting by a government agency or charity

  3. Who is Homeless • Children < 18 are 40%; majority under age 40 • African Americans 40% • Caucasians 38% • Hispanics 20% • 40% of men are veterans • 1/3 have severe addictive disorders • 16% have severe mental health disorders • 1% of population will be homeless at some point during each year (3,000,000) • On any given day between 400,000 and 800,000 are homeless

  4. What Causes Homelessness • Poverty: 12.5% of the US population is living in poverty (37,000,000) • Poverty: not enough money to pay for shelter, food, clothing, utilities, health care, etc. These people have to pick and choose what they can pay for. • Poverty increasing due to: • Increasing unemployment • Decreasing wages • Decreasing Public Assistance

  5. Causes of Homelessness • Foreclosures are up 33% in last two years due to mortgage crisis • Lack of affordable low income housing: as unemployment rises and low income wages fall the rents have increased • Mental health problems/Addiction problems: these people cannot sustain employment • Domestic violence breaking up families • Lack of coordinated health care system

  6. What Can Be Done • Think: • C contribute • A advocate • R reach out (volunteer) • E educate

  7. Contribute • Things that can be contributed: • Clothes • Food • House hold goods • Computers • Cell phones • Cash donations to charity groups

  8. Advocate • Join a coalition • Example: can become “friends” with salvation army on face book to be aware what help is needed • Follow local politics • Local city council has homeless committee with meetings open to the public • Involve the Media

  9. Reach Out • Volunteer at a shelter (Salvation Army in Lubbock) • Help build shelters/houses (Habitat for Humanity in Lubbock) • Volunteer professional services: legal aid, dentistry, medical care, counseling, child care, construction

  10. Educate • Educate yourself and others • http://www.nationalhomeless.org • http://www.endhomelessnes.org • Participate in 24 hour fast • Participate in a sleep out

  11. Medical Needs of Homeless • Primary Care • Urgent/Emergency Care • Mental Health/Counseling • Dental Care • Substance Abuse Treatment • Of these the only “easy” care obtainable is a trip to the ER

  12. What is the Problem • Primary Care/Urgent Care/ Non Crisis Mental Health • Cost of visits: not enough low cost clinics; funding still an issue; most are open during the day when people are supposed to be working, looking for work, etc. • Medicaid: currently for pregnant women, minors, elderly poor; plan in future to extend who is eligible; GOOD LUCK with states cutting benefits • Local indigent funding: example: Lubbock LCI; difficulty with process, proving you are poor

  13. Problems continued • Counseling • Veterans can receive counseling at local VA resources • Covenant counseling in Downtown works on sliding scale • Mental Health Taskforce meets in Lubbock at the LP&L building every two months to coordinate local efforts

  14. Problems continued • Dentistry • MUCH larger problem than people are aware of • Why? Dental insurance not often offered by employers; extensive dental work very expensive • CHCL resources overwhelmed • Twice in last year dentists have staged a large clinic for the underserved; Civic Center last year; this weekend at Abbeyville Dentistry • At Free Clinic we have dental clinic once a month

  15. Problems continued • Substance Abuse Treatment • VERY expensive time intensive process • Even people with the BEST resources (money and insurance) often have difficulty finding treatment • Managed Care in Lubbock has indigent beds but that is sporadic • Dove Tree also has some indigent beds

  16. Local Lubbock Efforts • Lubbock census in 2009 had approximately 700 homeless • 2010 count more difficult due to one temporary shelter (Carpenter’s church) having shut down causing more dispersal of homeless • Count was last week; awaiting official numbers • In 2010 due to increased number of people needing shelter City Council called for committee • Down town businesses and local public library want homeless situation examined

  17. Lubbock Council on Homeless • Last week went to Amarillo to examine their procedures • Mini mall with “stores” that are different charitable organizations, day care, etc. • Examining another process in San Antonio • Supposed to have recommendations for city council by this fall

  18. What can you do • Volunteer at local agencies • www.lubbockhospitality.com has list of local charitable agencies • Dial 211 to locate agencies to help people in need • Purchase local “Red Book” with information listed for local organizations

More Related