Fast Facts Helping the Homeless Population Open Door

Fast Facts: Helping the Homeless Population Open Door Health Services Marla Asberry

About Open Door Health Services • FQHC with locations in Muncie and Anderson (East Central Indiana) • 3 Family Planning Clinics • 3 WIC sites • Provided services to 21, 000 unique patients in 2014 • Large “Access” department with 9 enrollment staff

Homeless Population Characteristics Diverse group • • All races, ethnicities, immigration statuses, and backgrounds Vary in age, family status and length of homelessness Experience complex physical and mental conditions • Chronic/comorbid conditions, injuries, and addictions are common Basic needs become priorities • Health care and insurance are secondary Inconsistency • Home/mailing address and phone number are nonexistent or change

Addressing the Barriers to Enrollment Distrust Tips for Earning Trust: Be friendly Be patient Listen to their needs Pick a consistent, safe location (e. g. shelter) Follow-up and Follow -through Provide small items like socks or toothpaste Transportation • Shelters may provide transportation • ODHS meets individuals where they are Language/literacy • Many of the residents need help understanding health insurance basics and how to acquire health care. • Most know they need health insurance and need to be seen by a provider they just don’t know how to get from point A to point B.

Addressing the Barriers to Enrollment Lack of documentation • If needed, shelter provides letter proving residence • Shelter staff assist residents with obtaining documents like ID or birth certificate Unstable housing • Clients find temporary shelter – (e. g. Muncie Mission Ministries) o Rebuild lives with 12 -Step program, counseling, education and skill development • Assisters advise individuals who will not maintain residency at a shelter to report changes immediately to FSSA (within 10 days) • Offer ODHS services to all individuals regardless of their residency at shelter Illegal residency or non-qualified residency • Always suggest applying for health benefits, but advise them that, based on their citizenship status, they may or may not be eligible for full medical benefits.

Completing the Application Household Size • Applicant Household members Mailing Address • Just the applicant • Shelter/half-way house address with bed number • Local DFR office address – let the resident know to check for mail there • Become Authorized Representative (AR) and use your organization’s address Phone Number • Shelter/half-way house phone number • AR phone number Documentation • Work with organizations to get IDs/birth certificates/Social Security Cards (e. g. Legal Aid, shelters, ministry programs, etc. ) • Muncie Mission has letter they sign proving residency

Muncie Mission Letter

Best Practices Outreach/Education Techniques • Meet with shelter residents on orientation days on a biweekly basis and schedule appointment for following week to enroll in health insurance o Give business card with appointment time and date o Give form that shows what’s needed for appointment (ID, birth certificate, Social Security card, etc. ) Reaching the Homeless Population • • • Onsite at Mission every Monday (approximately 2 hours) to orientate/enroll individuals Soup kitchens Food pantries Churches Half-way houses/transitional housing Provide Wrap-Around Services • • Promote Coverage to Care and ODHS services including primary care, mental health, substance abuse, oral health, WIC, family planning, etc. Assist applicants with any additional needs

Best Practices Following-up • Check status of applications on a weekly basis and follow-up with client Building Partnerships • • • Schedule meeting with shelter/food pantry/half-way house leadership/director Explain services and assistance you provide Continually be a resource for the homeless population by maintaining contacts at each of our local shelters and with other agencies that work with this population • Example: Muncie Mission was in full agreement that ODHS’s services were needed to remove barriers to health care, health insurance and transportation Other Key Partners • Our Covering Kids and Families of East Central Coalition including:

Questions? Please complete the quick survey! Open Door Health Services Marla Asberry (765) 286 -7000 ext. 4075 maasberry@opendoorhs. org