Health Care Costs Plummet with Supportive Housing

Residents at the Bud Clark Commons apartments say their health has improved

A new study by the Center for Outcomes Research and Education at Providence Portland Medical Center shows that a home with access to a range of services can have a positive impact on health for people experiencing homelessness.  The study was based on resident surveys and health care utilization data for residents at our Bud Clark Commons apartments, which provide permanent homes and services for men and women who have been living on the streets with complex health issues.  The research found a 45 percent reduction in average health care costs a year after moving in, a savings of more than $8,724 in annual claims for the average resident.

“The results support the value of this innovative housing model,” said Steve Rudman, Home Forward’s executive director.  “The best news is that our residents reported better health overall and a significant drop in unmet health care needs.”

Learn more about the research results>

Collaboration Allows Seniors to Live at Home Longer

Home Forward is teaming with CedarSinai Park, an affordable housing and health services provider, and CareOregon, the state’s largest Medicaid provider, in a national demonstration designed to delay a person’s entry into expensive, long-term assisted health care. 

Four of our apartment communities for seniors will be involved, including Hollywood East pictured above.  Residents will have the opportunity to participate in a program that will provide them with health education, a range of in-home services, and help navigating today’s complex health care environment.  Home Forward will be a partner in a new entity, Housing with Services, created to develop and guide the new managed-care services model.

Learn more about the collaboration>

Sobering Testament to Need for Affordable Rents

When we’re asked how we measure the need for affordable housing, one of the indicators we point to is our waiting list openings.  Our opening earlier in April was no exception to what has become a wrenching trend:  thousands of people sign up for the opportunity to live in a home they can afford, even if it means waiting years for their name to come to the top of the list

Over four days we received more than 3,400 applications for two waiting lists – studios at Sellwood Center and three-bedroom apartments at Northwest Tower Annex.  That will likely translate into a ten-year wait for those lowest on the lists.  The good news is that they’re now on a list, and lists can move more quickly than we anticipate.  The good news for anyone who missed the window is that we expect another opening this summer.  Watch our website for more information.
 

New Board Members Committed to People with Less

What a Difference a Year Can Make...in Our Budget

Last April we were all struggling to understand a new and unfortunate word: sequestration.  This year we’ve banished it from our vocabulary.  With the federal budget compromise in January, we avoided a repeat of the 2013 across-the-board budget cuts that were so damaging to our programs.
 
The brighter budget allows us to lift the freeze on our Section 8 waiting list, implement new payment standards for voucher holders to improve housing access in our tight rental market, prioritize preserving our high rises that provide deeply subsidized homes for seniors and people with disabilities, resume investments in information technology, and institute a long-term savings approach to help ensure a strong financial foundation in our volatile funding climate.  It's a long and critical to do list that we're grateful to be able to tackle with our $129 million budget that went into effect April 1.

Learn more about our budget>

DASHBOARD REPORT

View the Dashboard Report here

NEWS

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE: Housing slashes health care costs

PORTLAND TRIBUNE: Creating food and art help youth triumph