Rural Project Examples Addressing Housing and homelessness

Medical Legal Partnership of Southern Illinois
Updated/reviewed July 2022

Need: Legal barriers often prevent economically disadvantaged people in Southern Illinois from obtaining positive health outcomes despite receiving medical care.
Intervention: The Medical Legal Partnership of Southern Illinois (MLPSI) was formed to create a system where medical providers can refer patients in need of legal assistance to local attorneys.
Results: Over 5,100 patients have utilized MLPSI since its founding in 2002. The program has relieved over $8.1 million in medical debt for both hospitals and patients.

NC-REACH: NC-Rurally Engaging and Assisting Clients who are HIV positive and Homeless
Updated/reviewed November 2020

Need: Provision of medical care access and follow-up for rural North Carolina HIV patients with mental health, substance abuse, and unstable housing/homelessness challenges.
Intervention: Medical home staff model expanded to a care coordination program with a core Network Navigator and Continuum of Care Coordinator assisting with medical, behavioral health, and basic life needs.
Results: To date, the program has advanced three aspects of medical home patient care for this target population: provided further understanding of the spectrum of homelessness, including "hidden" homelessness; implemented outreach with creation of new community partnerships and a community housing coalition; and integrated medical care and behavioral health care for HIV.

Canyon Creek Services
Updated/reviewed March 2023

Need: To reduce and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in Utah's rural Beaver, Garfield, and Iron counties.
Intervention: Canyon Creek Services provides a 24/7 emergency hotline, emergency shelter, hospital response, crisis intervention, housing advocacy, and community education services.
Results: In 2022, CCS served 756 survivors, with 141 of them accessing the emergency shelter. CCS reached 159,275 people through community outreach and prevention campaigns.

Recovery Kentucky
Added February 2023

Need: To provide housing and recovery services for rural Kentuckians dealing with substance use.
Intervention: Recovery Kentucky has 8 rural locations and provides apartments within a congregate living environment and an opportunity to begin recovery from substance use disorder in a structured, peer-led 12-step environment.
Results: The rural and urban centers serve up to 2,200 people annually. An independent university-led resident outcome evaluation showed significant improvements in clients' drug and alcohol use, housing and employment status, decrease in criminal justice improvement, and improved health and mental health.

Positively Living & Choice Health Network
Updated/reviewed December 2022

Need: To provide healthcare and support to thousands of East Tennesseans living with HIV/AIDS, mental illness, substance use disorder, and homelessness and dealing with LGBT discrimination.
Intervention: Positively Living & Choice Health Network provides services like a medical clinic and pharmacy, therapy, client services like housing aid and transportation, and a harm reduction program.
Results: The program currently serves 5,000 individuals and families through its offices in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, and rural Cookeville and its mobile medical unit for rural communities.

Mitchell Area Safehouse and Family Visitation Center
Updated/reviewed November 2021

Need: To provide victims of domestic violence a safe space, advocacy, education, and family support services.
Intervention: The Mitchell Area Safehouse and Family Visitation Center in rural South Dakota provides emergency/transitional housing, support groups, and community education.
Results: In 2020, Mitchell Area Safehouse answered 401 crisis calls, provided shelter for 169 survivors, and advocated for 239 survivors. The Safehouse assisted in 19 protection orders and provided advocacy to 17 sexual assault survivors.

Rural Project Examples: Housing and homelessness