Grant Partners

Project Directors: Thomas Byrne, PhD, Principal Investigator and Daniel Miller, PhD, Co-Investigator“A Data-Based Redesign of Health Care and Housing for People who Experience Chronic Homelessness” is a two year project that will assess the potential return on investment associated with several different housing intervention models for persons age 55 and above experiencing chronic homelessness. The research team plans to: describe the health care utilization patterns among Massachusetts residents over the age of 55 who are enrolled in Medicaid and experience chronic homelessness and compare those patterns to two other comparison groups, including a similar cohort who experiences homelessness on a temporary basis and a cohort who have not experienced homelessness; project health care costs over the next ten years associated with Massachusetts residents over the age of 55 who are chronically homeless and enrolled in Medicaid in the absence of a housing intervention; and analyze if/to what extent implementation of several different housing models targeted to chronically homeless adults aged 55 and older would lead to reductions in health care costs. Where applicable, the researchers will also estimate the potential return on investment associated with large-scale implementation of the housing models considered. This project will focus on Massachusetts but is expected to be part of a multi-state project involving other independent studies in California, New York, and Washington (pending funding for projects in each of these states), which share similar research objectives.

Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC) will plan outreach and enrollment activities at community locations. It will use an extensive follow-up system to address churn, ensuring that individuals have obtained the benefit they applied for and that all documents have been submitted.  It will conduct financial education and coaching to help ensure individuals can maintain their payments and minimize the risk of churn, and conduct educational coaching on health insurance literacy.

Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin Regions will conduct outreach through four community coalitions, food pantries, and career centers.  They will screen all callers for health insurance needs and send reminders about member responsibilities to submit documentation and update information.  At enrollment meetings, Community Action will provide materials to help members stay organized and follow-up to see if they have a PCP, can access their Connector account, and have responded to any mailings. 

Urban Edge provides housing supportive services including public benefit enrollment, family budgeting, leadership development, connections to community, and tax preparation services.  The Family Van carries out curbside testing, health coaching, and care referrals to individuals in underserved communities, travelling directly to areas in which the need is greatest, and providing a range of preventive services and an alternative to costly emergency department visits.  Both organizations will partner with Winn Companies to analyze the impact that housing support services have on the health of families most impacted by the social determinants of health, using an Evaluation Framework for Community Health Programs. 

Fishing Partnership Health Plan (FPHP) will conduct outreach mailings and maintain presence at harbors, marinas, and trade shows, reaching fishermen and their families. They will address churn through providing a Resource Sheet with relevant deadlines, follow-up via preferred communications methods, and provide individual education sessions on health insurance literacy.