Care for the Homeless (CFH)

Founded in 1984, Care for the Homeless (CFH) fights homelessness by delivering high-quality and client-centered healthcare, human services and shelter to homeless individuals and families, and by advocating for policies to ameliorate, prevent and end homelessness. CFH has over three decades of successful, demonstrated experience in delivering medical and behavioral health (mental health and substance use) services to homeless individuals and families. CFH was one of the inaugural 330h grantees and is one of the largest Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) programs in the country. Utilizing a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) approach, CFH provides a range of integrated primary care and behavioral health services at 15 sites across NYC--14 of which have been awarded Level 3 (the highest awarded) PCMH recognition--through a comprehensive range of services to homeless persons and families. The services include primary care (adult and pediatric), mental health (psychiatric services and mental health counseling), behavioral health (substance abuse counseling and treatment adherence services), HIV services (integrated outreach, early intervention counseling and testing services, risk reduction, treatment, and care coordination), health education, LGBTQ services, oral health care and podiatry. CFH also partners with the Institute for Family Health (IFH), to provide health care services to homeless individuals at 7 Manhattan locations. Combined, the sites serve more than 7,400 unique patients per year.

CFH’s services have resulted in significant improvements in the health of the homeless population, as well as savings in costs and efficiencies within the health care system. CFH has created a total of 93 jobs in the community, with an economic impact of $2,032,913, and annual local and state tax revenues of $308,961. According to CFH’s Value + Impact report (2016 data), as a result of CFH’s services costs for CFH Medicaid clients decreased by 24%, leading to $11 million in savings for Medicaid.

CFH has an active and effective Policy and Advocacy department and board committee that supports improved and expanded health care, human services, supportive housing and affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in New York City, and elsewhere, as part of our mission to ameliorate, prevent and end homelessness. This is accomplished by monitoring throughout the year, the city, state, and federal policy activities that impact NYC’s homeless population. One of the core activities of the policy work is an advocacy training program for current consumers who after completing the course, regularly speak to and make presentations for policy makers at all levels of government, to facilitate positive change for homeless New Yorkers.

CFH also operates Susan’s Place, a 200-bed transitional residence for homeless women who are mentally ill or medically frail. Susan’s Place opened in 2008 and has places over 1,000 women in permanent housing. The residence regularly achieves a perfect score on the bi-annual Callahan inspection, a comprehensive evaluation of shelter’s physical plant that ensures the safety and security of the residents and staff.

www.careforthehomeless.org

Twitter: @cfhnyc 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CFHNYC/