KABC News reported on the story of Ma'Lissa Simon, a homeless mother of twin babies, who was able to receive permanent housing through L.A. Care's $20 million commitment to support Los Angeles County's Housing for Health program.
The segment talked about the strong connection between homelessness and health, citing that poor health is a leading cause of homelessness and living on the street creates new and often fatal health conditions. L.A. Care believes housing is one of the most important factors in keeping people healthy and lowering the costs to society.
"The cost pressures on Medicaid, as a publicly financed health insurance program, will continue to go up. So we need to be addressing the social side of our members' lives."
--John Baackes
CEO, L.A. Care
L.A. Care's grant was made to Brilliant Corners, a nonprofit supportive housing agency, which is partnering with Los Angeles County to secure permanent supportive housing for 300 homeless individuals. This Housing for Health grant is part of L.A. Care's focus on the "social determinants of health" — the social, economic and physical conditions under which we are born and live through on a daily basis.
"I think housing is healthcare. I found that mental health changes immediately, and physical health changes as someone's housed."
--Sheena Savdharia
Clinical Social Worker- Homeless Care Specialist, L.A. Care