Adventist Review Online | “Housing is Healing”

Executives with the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness and Florida Hospital recently joined regional authorities to announce that more than 100 formerly homeless people have moved into homes as a result of the region’s “Housing First” initiative.

In 2014, Florida Hospital, a group of Seventh-day Adventist-operated healthcare institutions in Central Florida, United States, made a $6 million donation to end chronic homelessness in the region—the largest one-time private commitment of its kind. Central Florida leaders leveraged this contribution to launch a campaign to end the cycle of chronic homelessness in the region by transitioning to the Housing-First model, in which the chronically homeless are provided a home, extensive support services, and case managers.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone in Central Florida’s history. This pilot to build a new system of care would not be possible were it not for the collaboration and support of our community partners,” said Shelley Lauten, CEO of the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness. “While the pilot shows great promise, it is important we remember the work we have done as a community must not stop. We will continue to work together to effectively end chronic homelessness in Central Florida—by making it rare, brief and one time.”

Besides representatives from the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness and Florida Hospital, present at the ceremony were Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Kissimmee Mayor Jose Alvarez, Osceola County Commissioner Peggy Choudhry, and Seminole County Commissioner John Horan.

The Housing First model is a proven approach that seeks to end the vicious cycle of chronic homelessness that costs communities, local governments, hospitals and businesses millions of dollars each year.

When Florida Hospital joined the initiative with its donation, the organization identified 100 homeless Central Floridians who most frequently visited the emergency department during a one-year period. In that time, their combined total hospital charges were near $15 million in uncompensated care.

“Every day, hundreds of people enter our emergency rooms. We provide life-saving surgeries, treat their infections and try to heal them. But if a patient is homeless and has no social, financial, mental or medical support, they return to our hospitals time and time again,” said Daryl Tol, president, and CEO of Florida Hospital. “While there is a cost benefit to ending chronic homeless, as a faith-based organization, it’s what we are called to do. We believe housing is healing.”

“Our region’s efforts to house our homeless population is another example of the power of collaboration,” said Dyer. “Florida Hospital’s commitment to ending chronic homelessness was a catalyst for developing a coordinated, long-term solution to address one of our region’s most complex challenges.”

“While much has been accomplished, an immense need remains,” said Martha Are, executive director of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida. “We know there are at least 1,000 more chronically homeless men and women in Central Florida who need our help with housing.”

For the formerly homeless such as Ann Anderson, a house and the key services are life-changing.

“Having a home is a huge blessing,” said Anderson, who lived in a tent behind a business in Orange County. Anderson said she appreciates the simple things, like being able to get a glass of cold water to drink.

Elected officials who have been supportive of the Housing First initiative applauded the efforts and results the region is experiencing so far.

“As a region, we have a proven track record of success through collaboration,” said Jacobs. “Through an interdisciplinary approach, we’ve been able to align priorities in support of ‘Housing the First 100’ program and make real progress in housing a very vulnerable group of high-need, chronically homeless individuals.”

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