Homelessness

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Homelessness

• Kelly Bennett, MD
• Medical Director
• TTUHSC Free Clinic

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Definition of Homelessness

• Per federal government
• people who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate
  night time residence
• A true residence cannot be administered in a
  group setting by a government agency or charity

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Who is Homeless

• Children lt 18 are 40 majority under age 40
• African Americans 40
• Caucasians 38
• Hispanics 20
• 40 of men are veterans
• 1/3 have severe addictive disorders
• 16 have severe mental health disorders
• 1 of population will be homeless at some point
  during each year (3,000,000)
• On any given day between 400,000 and 800,000 are
  homeless

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What Causes Homelessness

• Poverty 12.5 of the US population is living in
  poverty (37,000,000)
• Poverty not enough money to pay for shelter,
  food, clothing, utilities, health care, etc.
  These people have to pick and choose what they
  can pay for.
• Poverty increasing due to
• Increasing unemployment
• Decreasing wages
• Decreasing Public Assistance

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Causes of Homelessness

• Foreclosures are up 33 in last two years due to
  mortgage crisis
• Lack of affordable low income housing as
  unemployment rises and low income wages fall the
  rents have increased
• Mental health problems/Addiction problems these
  people cannot sustain employment
• Domestic violence breaking up families
• Lack of coordinated health care system

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What Can Be Done

• Think
• C contribute
• A advocate
• R reach out (volunteer)
• E educate

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Contribute

• Things that can be contributed
• Clothes
• Food
• House hold goods
• Computers
• Cell phones
• Cash donations to charity groups

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Advocate

• Join a coalition
• Example can become friends with salvation army
  on face book to be aware what help is needed
• Follow local politics
• Local city council has homeless committee with
  meetings open to the public
• Involve the Media

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Reach Out

• Volunteer at a shelter (Salvation Army in
  Lubbock)
• Help build shelters/houses (Habitat for Humanity
  in Lubbock)
• Volunteer professional services legal aid,
  dentistry, medical care, counseling, child care,
  construction

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Educate

• Educate yourself and others
• http//www.nationalhomeless.org
• http//www.endhomelessnes.org
• Participate in 24 hour fast
• Participate in a sleep out

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Medical Needs of Homeless

• Primary Care
• Urgent/Emergency Care
• Mental Health/Counseling
• Dental Care
• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Of these the only easy care obtainable is a
  trip to the ER

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What is the Problem

• Primary Care/Urgent Care/ Non Crisis Mental
  Health
• Cost of visits not enough low cost clinics
  funding still an issue most are open during the
  day when people are supposed to be working,
  looking for work, etc.
• Medicaid currently for pregnant women, minors,
  elderly poor plan in future to extend who is
  eligible GOOD LUCK with states cutting benefits
• Local indigent funding example Lubbock LCI
  difficulty with process, proving you are poor

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Problems continued

• Counseling
• Veterans can receive counseling at local VA
  resources
• Covenant counseling in Downtown works on sliding
  scale
• Mental Health Taskforce meets in Lubbock at the
  LPL building every two months to coordinate
  local efforts

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Problems continued

• Dentistry
• MUCH larger problem than people are aware of
• Why? Dental insurance not often offered by
  employers extensive dental work very expensive
• CHCL resources overwhelmed
• Twice in last year dentists have staged a large
  clinic for the underserved Civic Center last
  year this weekend at Abbeyville Dentistry
• At Free Clinic we have dental clinic once a month

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Problems continued

• Substance Abuse Treatment
• VERY expensive time intensive process
• Even people with the BEST resources (money and
  insurance) often have difficulty finding
  treatment
• Managed Care in Lubbock has indigent beds but
  that is sporadic
• Dove Tree also has some indigent beds

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Local Lubbock Efforts

• Lubbock census in 2009 had approximately 700
  homeless
• 2010 count more difficult due to one temporary
  shelter (Carpenters church) having shut down
  causing more dispersal of homeless
• Count was last week awaiting official numbers
• In 2010 due to increased number of people needing
  shelter City Council called for committee
• Down town businesses and local public library
  want homeless situation examined

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Lubbock Council on Homeless

• Last week went to Amarillo to examine their
  procedures
• Mini mall with stores that are different
  charitable organizations, day care, etc.
• Examining another process in San Antonio
• Supposed to have recommendations for city council
  by this fall

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What can you do

• Volunteer at local agencies
• www.lubbockhospitality.com has list of local
  charitable agencies
• Dial 211 to locate agencies to help people in
  need
• Purchase local Red Book with information listed
  for local organizations