With support from the Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals Program, Saint Joseph's Mercy Care Services and its project partners (First Step, Intown Collaborative Ministries, Partners for Home, Salvation Army and Suzanne Struble, LLC) will work together to provide targeted, integrated substance abuse treatment, housing and support services for chronically homeless individuals in our community. These individuals, while often among the most vulnerable in terms of poor health, substance abuse and co-occuring disorders, are also often very mistrustful of mainstream health systems. Street Medicine offers a non-traditional approach to engaging these individuals, building trusting relationships and providing guidance and support as they work towards improved health, housing, recovery and self-sufficiency. The project will serve approximately 100 unique clients each year, for a total of approximately 500 over the course of the five-year project period. The proposed project's goals and objectives are:
Goal 1 – Housing: Mercy Care and its project partners will work to reduce the incidence of homelessness in Fulton and DeKalb counties.
Objectives – 1a. The team will engage with 200 unique clients yearly and screen them for eligibility for this program. 1b. The team will enroll 100 clients per year into the program. 1c. The team will refer 90 clients per year to the continuum of care for permanent housing. 1d. The team will connect 30 clients per year to permanent housing solutions.
Goal 2 – Whole Person Health: Mercy Care and its project partners will work to improve the health and wellness of clients enrolled in this program.
Objectives – 2a. The team will screen 90% of clients for substance use disorders. The team will provide substance abuse treatment or referral to Mercy Care’s substance abuse program or other area substance abuse treatment program (including recovery housing) to 75% of clients who desire substance use treatment. 2b. The Street Medicine team will provide direct physical health services to 70% of clients who desire it and will provide referrals for other healthcare services as needed.
Goal 3 – Self-Sufficiency - Mercy Care and its project partners will improve self-sufficiency among enrolled clients by providing linkage to community resources for benefits and disability services.
Objectives – 3a. The team will screen 90% of enrolled clients for eligibility for benefits, disability, and vocational services. The team will refer 70% of clients who qualify to appropriate resources (those with disabilities to disability services and those able to work to vocational services). 40% of clients will maintain or increase income and benefits while enrolled in this project. 3b. The team will refer 70% of clients that are eligible for Medicaid to enrollment specialists at Mercy Care’s Decatur Street clinic site.