Housing The Homeless Not Only Saves Lives -- It's Actually Cheaper Than Doing Nothing

mentalfloss

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Housing The Homeless Not Only Saves Lives -- It's Actually Cheaper Than Doing Nothing

It's cheaper to give homeless men and women a permanent place to live than to leave them on the streets.

That’s according to a study of an apartment complex for formerly homeless people in Charlotte, N.C., that found drastic savings on health care costs and incarceration.

Moore Place houses 85 chronically homeless adults, and was the subject of a study by the University of North Carolina Charlotte released on Monday. The study found that, in its first year, Moore Place tenants saved $1.8 million in health care costs, with 447 fewer emergency room visits (a 78 percent reduction) and 372 fewer days in the hospital (a 79 percent reduction).

The tenants also spent 84 percent fewer days in jail, with a 78 percent drop in arrests. The reduction is largely due to a decrease in crimes related to homelessness, such as trespassing, loitering, public urination, begging and public consumption of alcohol, according to Caroline Chambre, director the Urban Ministry Center’s HousingWorks, the main force behind Moore Place.

One tenant, Carl Caldwell, 62, said he used to go to the emergency room five to seven times a week, late at night, so he could spend the night there. “You wouldn’t believe my hospital bills,” Caldwell, who hasn’t had health insurance for years, told The Huffington Post. Caldwell was a teacher for 30 years and became homeless five years ago, when he lost his job and his roommate moved out.

While living on the street, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The disease was particularly challenging for Caldwell, who said he spent his days “trying not to get robbed or killed” and trying to find bathrooms and shelter from freezing weather. Since he moved into Moore Place when it opened in March 2012, Caldwell has gained a regular doctor and has undergone radiation. Now his cancer is in remission. Without having to worry about where he will sleep, he can take his medicine regularly and keep it in his mini fridge.

“Moore Place saved my life,” Caldwell said. “When you’re homeless, you are dependent on everybody. Now I am independent and can give back." Caldwell said he regularly helps feed homeless people now and has reconnected with family members he hadn’t spoken to in years.

Chambre said she expects Moore Place tenants’ mental and physical health to continue to improve with consistent access to health care. “The idea of having a primary care doctor was just a fantasy when they were living on the street,” said Chambre. “Now they all have a regular doctor.”

Moore Place is the first homeless facility in Charlotte with a “housing first” model. Housing first is based on the notion that homeless individuals can more effectively deal with other issues –- such as addiction, employment and physical or mental health -– once they have housing. The other permanent housing facility for the homeless in Charlotte does not follow the “housing first” model, requiring sobriety as a prerequisite.

“Charlotte also has several large shelters with very robust front doors,” Chambre said. “But you have to also have a back door -- a way for people to escape homelessness. Shelters are overcrowded, with people living there for years, which defeats the purpose of emergency shelters.”

Moore Place tenants are required to contribute 30 percent of their income -– which for many residents comes from benefits like disability, veterans or Social Security -– toward rent. The rest of their housing costs, which total about $14,000 per tenant annually, are paid by a combination of private and church donations, and local and federal government funding.

The land and construction for the facility cost $6 million, which Chambre predicted will be surpassed by the millions of dollars the facility will save in health care and incarceration costs.

The UNCC study is one of several studies that have found that providing housing first reduces the overall cost of homelessness.

UNCC assistant professor Lori Thomas, who directed the study, said she found the health care and incarceration improvement among the tenants particularly notable, given how vulnerable the tenants are. Most tenants have two or more disabling health-related conditions, and nearly half suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, the study reported.

“This compassionate perspective is a better way to honor the humanity of a person, but it also works from a fiscally responsible perspective,” Thomas said. “This really is a win-win.”

Housing The Homeless Not Only Saves Lives -- It's Actually Cheaper Than Doing Nothing
 

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
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Sometimes feral people don't want to live in a cage.

To be fair, non-feral people don't really want to live in a cage either. But there is usually a difference between a cage and shelter from the elements. A fair portion of the people on the streets might feel that way though, and of those probably a good portion of them are mentally ill. That has to be dealt with first or it doesn't matter how many homes you provide for them, they'll end up back on the streets.
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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To be fair, non-feral people don't really want to live in a cage either. But there is usually a difference between a cage and shelter from the elements. A fair portion of the people on the streets might feel that way though, and of those probably a good portion of them are mentally ill. That has to be dealt with first or it doesn't matter how many homes you provide for them, they'll end up back on the streets.

To the feral an LHK suite is a cage.
 

captain morgan

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Mar 28, 2009
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To be fair, non-feral people don't really want to live in a cage either. But there is usually a difference between a cage and shelter from the elements. A fair portion of the people on the streets might feel that way though, and of those probably a good portion of them are mentally ill. That has to be dealt with first or it doesn't matter how many homes you provide for them, they'll end up back on the streets.


... And herein lies one of the big problems.

Can you force someone (against their will) to consume these drugs under the guise that it is in their best interests?

At some point, there will be no hospital bed available and/or the shelter is full.... We've had a remarkably cold and snowy winter this year that has been very tough on this demographic.... So, in light of the restrictions on the available resources, what becomes the answer?
 

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
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36
London, Ontario
To the feral an LHK suite is a cage.

LHK? (I'm over worked and tired, so I might be missing the obvious here.)

... And herein lies one of the big problems.

Can you force someone (against their will) to consume these drugs under the guise that it is in their best interests?

At some point, there will be no hospital bed available and/or the shelter is full.... We've had a remarkably cold and snowy winter this year that has been very tough on this demographic.... So, in light of the restrictions on the available resources, what becomes the answer?

That's the really hard question isn't it? And the truth is, there's no good answer to it. On the one hand, I would hate to live in a society that would regularly impose the will of many upon the individual for no other reason that they 'think it's right'. That's one hell of a slippery slope to start down. On the other hand, with the winters we do have, how can any decent human being allow another human being to be left alone to endure the elements. It's both cruel and heartless. I think no matter what side of the issue you come down on, it's torturous.

I guess all we can do is do the best we can to help those who will accept it. I know a lot of people say they make a choice to be out there, and in some cases that may well be true, but if you're actually without the means (mentally, financially, physically) to make any other choice, then really what kind of 'choice' is it?
 

taxslave

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 25, 2008
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It probably would be except for two things.
1) SOme of the homeless are quite content the way they are.
2) The huge amount of graft and mismanagement of funds by the social workers involved. Portland Hotel society comes to mind.
 

captain morgan

Hall of Fame Member
Mar 28, 2009
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That's the really hard question isn't it? And the truth is, there's no good answer to it. On the one hand, I would hate to live in a society that would regularly impose the will of many upon the individual for no other reason that they 'think it's right'. That's one hell of a slippery slope to start down. On the other hand, with the winters we do have, how can any decent human being allow another human being to be left alone to endure the elements. It's both cruel and heartless. I think no matter what side of the issue you come down on, it's torturous.

I guess all we can do is do the best we can to help those who will accept it. I know a lot of people say they make a choice to be out there, and in some cases that may well be true, but if you're actually without the means (mentally, financially, physically) to make any other choice, then really what kind of 'choice' is it?

At some point in time, personal responsibility has to be assessed into the equation
 

captain morgan

Hall of Fame Member
Mar 28, 2009
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Ok, I understand the comment now.

What I am driving at is that the system is finite and at some point, there will be cut-offs that will have dire consequences. At this point, what do we really do?.. Blame society, blame the individual or invoke a systemic approach that cares only for the most vulnerable (think mental illness) and disregards the remainder of those that are homeless.

Head out to the West coast some time and you'll get a bit of an idea as to the nature of the 'personal responsibility' comment
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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Hey if the end game is profit, then why would a fiscal conservative complain?
 

JLM

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Housing The Homeless Not Only Saves Lives -- It's Actually Cheaper Than Doing Nothing

It's cheaper to give homeless men and women a permanent place to live than to leave them on the streets.

That’s according to a study of an apartment complex for formerly homeless people in Charlotte, N.C., that found drastic savings on health care costs and incarceration.

Moore Place houses 85 chronically homeless adults, and was the subject of a study by the University of North Carolina Charlotte released on Monday. The study found that, in its first year, Moore Place tenants saved $1.8 million in health care costs, with 447 fewer emergency room visits (a 78 percent reduction) and 372 fewer days in the hospital (a 79 percent reduction).

The tenants also spent 84 percent fewer days in jail, with a 78 percent drop in arrests.
Housing The Homeless Not Only Saves Lives -- It's Actually Cheaper Than Doing Nothing


I know a better way to cause them to spend less time in jail.............getting food involves a few hours of hard labour every day! -:)

LHK? (I'm over worked and tired, so I might be missing the obvious here.)


Light housekeeping.-:)
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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What a cop-out.

I take it that your thoughts on this is that more hospitals with even bigger ER depts is the solution, eh?

Stop being such a mindless ideologue

I'm asking a legitimate question. There are conservatives out there supporting this study because it saves money.
 

Tecumsehsbones

Hall of Fame Member
Mar 18, 2013
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You'd think something that improves life for the needy and saves money would get widespread approval.

That, alas, turns out to be a trifle naive.