Advocacy Priorities

[The following copy is placeholder copy because we do not yet have our 2016-onward advocacy priorities. We should have by September, in time for website launch.]    
 
We at Health Care for the Homeless work to prevent and end homelessness for vulnerable individuals and families by providing quality, integrated health care and promoting access to affordable housing and sustainable incomes through direct service, advocacy and community engagement. Central to this mission is a commitment to advocacy with and on behalf of people without homes and those at risk of homelessness. The following priorities are based on our Health Care for the Homeless advocacy agenda.

Expanded health care and insurance coverage

We will promote the comprehensive and integrated treatment needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness within the context of health reform implementation and grassroots campaigns supporting universal health care. We will support continued efforts to implement successfully the expansion of Medicaid for people living in or near poverty—including a seamless transition from safety net health services to comprehensive public health insurance, robust outreach and enrollment efforts and an integrated behavioral health system. Health Care for the Homeless will work through the National Health Care for the Homeless Council to promote the expansion of health centers equipped to engage vulnerable people, protect and improve the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and advance efforts toward universal access to health care.

Increased availability of affordable housing

We will advance implementation of public policies, programs and partnerships that increase the availability and accessibility of affordable housing for people with extremely low incomes. We will advocate for increased resources, policies, strategies and collaborations necessary to rapidly re-house persons experiencing homelessness, including meeting the needs of those at risk of homelessness due to eviction or foreclosure. We will support efforts to increase public housing budget allocations as well as finance the National Housing Trust Fund.

Improved access to emergency shelter and services

We will work with partner agencies to ensure adequate, effective, responsive and respectful outreach and emergency shelter and services—with particular focus on the needs of especially vulnerable and underserved populations; e.g., due to age, gender, household composition or health conditions. We will defend state and local funding for emergency shelter and supportive services as short-term goals while more long-term and permanent housing solutions are realized.

Enhanced availability of adequate incomes

We will advocate for improved and expedited access to federal and state disability, unemployment and other public assistance benefits—as well as the availability and adequacy of these programs. We will support livable incomes and broader supports for low-wage workers, as well as progressive tax policies.

Expanded reentry services and opportunities

We will promote policies and practices that break the link between incarceration and homelessness, and enhance successful re-integration into community living. We will oppose efforts to criminalize the experience of homelessness, and support alternatives to incarceration. We will work in partnership with other agencies to broaden the array of services, planning and resources for persons leaving public institutions and medical facilities.

For additional information on the Health Care for the Homeless 2015 advocacy priorities, please contact Director of Community Relations Adam Schneider (aschneider@hchmd.org or 443-703-1398).