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Comparative Cost Analysis of Housing and Case Management Program for Chronically Ill Homeless Adults Compared to Usual Care

An Effective Practice

Description

The housing and case management intervention was based on the Housing First model and offered three components: interim housing at a respite center after hospital discharge, stable housing after recovery from hospitalization, and case management based in study hospital, respite, and housing sites. This was a randomized controlled trial of 407 homeless adults with chronic medical illnesses enrolled at two hospitals in Chicago, Illinois, and followed for 18 months.

Goal / Mission

To assess the costs of a housing and case management program in a novel sample: homeless adults with chronic medical illnesses.

Impact

Compared to usual care, the intervention group generated an average annual cost savings of (−)$6,307 per person (95 percent CI: −16,616, 4,002; p = .23). Subgroup analyses of chronically homeless and those with HIV showed higher per person, annual cost savings of (−)$9,809 and (−)$6,622.

Results / Accomplishments

The findings of this comprehensive, comparative cost analyses demonstrated important average annual savings, though in this underpowered study these savings did not achieve statistical significance.

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
Anirban Basu
Department of Health Services and PORPP
University of Washington,
1959 NE Pacific St, Box-357660
Seattle, WA 98195-7660
basua@uw.edu
Topics
Economy / Housing & Homes
Health / Other Conditions
Date of publication
Feb 2012
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Chicago, Illinois
For more details
Target Audience
Adults
Healthy Marin