homelessness

On May 10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an Informational Bulletin encouraging states to leverage available opportunities in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services for eligible individuals experiencing homelessness. Topics covered include: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Demonstration ; Section 1115 Demonstrations for Improving Community Reentry Following Incarceration ; Addressing Health-Related Social Needs ; Section 1115 Demonstrations Focusing on Improving Treatment for Substance Use ; Additional Resources

In response to older adults representing the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness, USAging recently released five homelessness prevention case examples featuring different successful AAA programs and partnerships to support housing stability. Agencies can find inspiration and ideas to evolve their own work and partnerships to provide homelessness prevention assistance and housing-related supports for older adults and people with disabilities.

On November 30, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) released the first federal homelessness research agenda in more than a decade, aimed at shaping federal investments in homelessness research by offering a roadmap for academic researchers, philanthropy, students, and others committed to understanding what works to prevent and end the crisis of homelessness in the United States. This agenda was developed with significant public input from researchers, people with lived experience of homelessness, national organizations, and experts from federal agencies.

Wellsky has published a paper detailing how proactive action by states, health systems, and communities can reduce the number of seniors experiencing homelessness. The paper discusses the following topics: why skyrocketing senior homelessness is virtually inevitable in the coming years; how health and human services in your state or community will be affected; and what actions can best help specific segments of the senior homeless population.

This publication highlights some of the innovative work AAAs and Title VI Aging Programs are doing to tackle the critical issues of brain health and housing and homelessness among older adults in their communities. Based on findings from previous n4a topical polls, this publications shows a few examples of the various ways AAAs and Title VI programs are adapting their programs and services to meet the changing needs of older adults.

CMS recently released a Report to Congress highlighting approaches five state programs implemented to address housing instability and improve treatment outcomes for people with Substance Use Disorder. Initiatives mentioned in the report focus on: providing housing-related supports that facilitate access to community resources; sharing data across systems to identify and target those in need for resources; and partnerships building across state and local health and housing systems and providers.

This issue brief discusses the pressing legal needs of older adults and the ways that coordinating health care, legal, and social services can improve their well-being. The brief examines three medical-legal partnership programs serving older adults and explores their impact, including the prevention of homelessness and the improvement of financial stability.