Chicago Hospitals Could House Homeless Patients

Given the fact that many homeless patients end up costing the system a lot more than average, several Chicago hospitals are considering ways to house them.

1 minute read

January 24, 2018, 9:00 AM PST

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Hospital Signs

Johnson Photography LLC / Shutterstock

Many chronically homeless people also struggle with chronic illness. Permanent housing could reduce their costly dependence on the public medical safety net. Kristen Schorsch writes, "Research shows having a home reduces ER trips and hospitalizations as well as jail and detox time. A permanent address also boosts the rates that patients regularly see doctors who focus on prevention. Hospitals save money by not providing unnecessary care for little or no reimbursement."

Several Chicago facilities are on board. "The latest batch of hospitals finding housing for their chronically homeless patients—or planning to—include UChicago Medicine, Rush University Medical Center and Swedish Covenant Hospital."

Meanwhile, the University of Illinois Better Health Through Housing program has been piloting such an effort for several years. During 2015 and 2016, "The system spent about $250,000 to house 26 patients. The average monthly medical costs per person declined from about $5,900, to around $4,800 after they found housing."

Thursday, January 11, 2018 in Crain's Chicago Business

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business