Homeless Care Coordination

The Homeless Care Coordination Program was started by Providence Saint John’s Health Center in 2016, in response to a growing number of adults who are homeless and seeking care from the hospital Emergency Department. The program has expanded to now serve all 6 Providence Medical Centers in Los Angeles County.

At each location Community Health Workers are trained as Homeless Care Coordinators to link patients who experience homelessness with housing and case management services. The Homeless Care Coordinators work in the Emergency Department as part of the clinical team and provide the following services.

• Assessment of the patient to see if they are linked with a homeless serving organization. If not, linkages are made to organizations that are part of the Coordinated Entry System so that the patient can be case managed and receive housing support.
• Connect the individual with a local shelter to secure temporary housing (for patients who are not currently housed and are not yet connected with a homeless serving organization).
• Once shelter placement has been secured, the Homeless Care Coordinator links the patient with other resources and services they need like ongoing medical care, social services, food, etc.