Reducing Use of Medical Services by Chronically Ill Homeless Adults

An estimated 3.5 million people in the U.S. are homeless each year, and homeless adults are more likely than nonhomeless adults to have chronic medical illnesses — especially HIV, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus — and to experience complications from these illnesses. In a randomized controlled trial, researchers evaluated the effect of a housing intervention on hospitalization and emergency department visits among 407 homeless adults with chronic illnesses who were referred by social workers at a public teaching hospital and a private nonprofit hospital in Chicago from 2003 to 2006.

The intervention group received case management services by social workers, including arrangements for discharge to transitional housing, followed by placeme…