Study shows health benefits of housing for homeless

Solutions to solve the health crisis among the city's homeless population is an ongoing challenge.

But researchers say a local program designed to give the homeless access to housing and case management reduces the need for hospitalization and visits to area emergency rooms.

In a study published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers trumpet the Chicago Housing for Health Partnership, or CHHP, and its ability to reduce hospitalization.

"Our study addressed a neglected group among the homeless, those with chronic medical illness," says Dr. Laura Sadowski, an internist at Stroger Hospital. "With poor access to health care, their illnesses are usually under-treated and more severe."

The four-year study, coordinated by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, involved more than 400 chronically ill homeless people, including 146 with HIV. The participants were randomly assigned to a group provided with housing and intensive follow-up care, or a group that received usual care in Chicago's network of shelters and programs.

After 18 months the group that was receiving usual care had a higher rate of hospitalizations and emergency visits. That translated to 160 more hospitalizations for that group than the group receiving additional help from CHHP.

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