Housing Is Healthcare for Homeless Patients in Tarrant County, Texas

August 13, 2019  

Housing Is Healthcare for Homeless Patients in Tarrant County, Texas

HUD User publishes a series of case studies based on federal, state, and local strategies that increase affordable housing opportunities and support community development. The projects and community development efforts featured in these reports have demonstrated innovation through a multitude of partnerships and initiatives.

Frequently, experiences of homelessness correlate with a greater need for medical care, yet the lack of stable and secure housing impedes regular access to care, exacerbating otherwise manageable conditions. Instead, individuals experiencing homelessness are more likely to access care through emergency services, increasing costs to care providers and diminishing the health outcomes for patients. To improve this situation, four organizations in Tarrant County, Texas — home to the city of Fort Worth — launched Pathways to Housing in 2015, a program combining permanent housing with intensive wraparound support services and in-home healthcare delivery. At the conclusion of the initial 3-year pilot phase, the program had helped 39 individuals reduce their use of the local emergency department by 30 percent, reducing costs by $1.6 million annually, with supportive housing at the center of this innovative model of care.

Visit HUD User's Case Studies page to learn more about emerging practices to improve social outcomes through housing-focused partnerships.

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