The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63701

Joshua Bamberger, MD, MPH, Marc Trotz, Margot Antonnetty, and Daisy Leyva. Housing and Urban Health, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 101 Grove St., Rm 321, San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-554-2664, josh.bamberger@sfdph.org

Background: The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is one of the few county health departments to provide permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless people. The Direct Access to Housing (DAH) program is a master-lease program that presently houses 421 people. Community-based organizations or the public health hospitals control access to each room. Funding comes predominantly from local tax funds as well as State and Federal sources. At each of the six facilities there are integrated on-site services including medical care, case management and referral to substance abuse and mental health treatment.

Results: Between January 1999 and January 2003, 588 people (36% female, 4% transgendered, 60% male; 30% African American, 19% Latino/a, 12% Asian/Pacifica Islander, 1% Native American, 38% white/European American) were housed in the program. Ninety-one percent remained in the facility for greater than 6 months. On the night prior to entering the facility, 41% slept in an emergency shelter, 25% slept in a private SRO, 20% came from a psychiatric institution, 5% came from an acute hospital and 5% were sleeping on the street. Upon intake, 53% of the residents reported recent drug (heroin, cocaine and/or amphetamines) or heavy alcohol use and 60% report a mental health need. Fifteen percent of DAH residents report being HIV infected and 23% report a physical disability.

Conclusion: The DAH supportive housing program successfully provides permanent housing for formerly homeless people with multiple medical and psychosocial needs and should be a model for other local health departments.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe the successful supportive housing program in San Francisco as a national model
• To advocate among public health officials to include housing as a core function of public health.

Keywords: Housing, Homeless

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.