Mayor Adams Expands Efforts to Connect Patients Experiencing Homelessness to

Mayor Adams Expands Efforts to Connect Patients Experiencing Homelessness to Stable, Affordable Housing, Delivers on Promise in Housing Blueprint Released Earlier This Year

As Strategy to Good Health, ‘Housing for Health’ Initiative Will Focus on Four Strategic Areas: Navigation Services, Medical Respite Beds, Affordable Housing on Hospital Property, and Social Service Support for Patients in Permanent Housing

Program Will Leverage NYC Health + Hospitals Land to Create Nearly 650 New Affordable Homes Over Next Five Years

Nov 03, 2022

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz today announced ‘Housing for Health’ — a comprehensive initiative to serve the health system’s large patient population experiencing homelessness by connecting them to affordable homes and housing supports. Recognizing that the chronic health issues of unhoused individuals cannot be treated without stable housing, this initiative seeks to improve their health and wellbeing of New Yorkers by focusing on four strategic areas: Navigation services, medical respite beds, affordable housing on hospital property, and social service support for patients in permanent housing. Over the course of the next five years, the health system plans to leverage land to create nearly 650 new affordable homes, which will be situated near NYC Health + Hospitals facilities to deliver continuity of care for vulnerable New Yorkers with complex medical needs. This initiative delivers on multiple aspects of Mayor Adams’ “Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness” and builds on the health system’s commitment to a whole-person approach to health care.

“It’s time to look at the full picture of New Yorkers’ health challenges, and to treat these challenges holistically,” said Mayor Adams. “It’s not enough to care for unhoused New Yorkers in the emergency room and then discharge them if they have no home to recover and heal in. Adults experiencing homelessness have three times as many hospital and emergency visits compared to those with stable housing, so it’s time we finally break this vicious cycle. I am proud to announce our ‘Housing for Health’ Initiative that will connect NYC Health + Hospitals patients to permanent housing or medical respite beds and will leverage Health + Hospitals land to create 650 units of affordable housing over the next five years. We know housing is fundamental to health, and this program brings us one step closer to achieving a healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous New York City.”

“Housing is health care. For many New Yorkers, NYC Health + Hospitals serves as their health home base,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “It’s where they seek care, advice, and support in times of need. With this initiative, many New Yorkers will be able to come home to safe, stable, and affordable housing thanks to Health + Hospitals and its creative leveraging of existing land. Every New Yorker…