Chicago Hospitals Could House Homeless Patients

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."

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."