WINTER 2009
MHSA Releases Updated Home & Healthy for Good Report
Home & Healthy for Good continues to lead the housing revolution in Massachusetts, moving the Commonwealth ever closer to a humane, efficient and cost-effective solution to chronic homelessness. An evaluation of the Housing First program, with a focus on cost per participant and projected cost savings in state-funded programs, is ongoing.
Recent highlights include:
- As of November 16, 2009, 417 formerly chronically homeless people have been housed in the Home & Healthy for Good (HHG) program.
- Tenant retention stands at 84 percent.
- The annual costs per person decreased from $33,327 before housing to $24,066 after housing placement, resulting in an annual savings of $9261 per person.
- A recent analysis by the state Office of Medicaid showed that on average, Medicaid costs per HHG participant dropped by 67 percent after participants moved into housing.
Click here for the full report.
Listen to Dr. Jessie Gaeta on Talk of the Nation's "What Works" segment from August 3, 2009.
Dr. Gaeta discussed the breakthrough results of Home & Healthy for Good. You can listen to the interview titled "Home & Healthy for Good Fixes Homelessness" archived at www.npr.org. Or, read the transcript by clicking here.
Would you like to support what works to end homelessness? Donate to MHSA or click here to learn about other ways to get involved. Your support will help us continue advancing permanent solutions to homelessness. Thank you!
“I feel like I’m patching my patients up just to send them back to such an unhealthy environment. Having a home to recuperate in, store medications and feel secure would make all the difference.”
Dr. Jessie Gaeta, MHSA Physician Advocate
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