The Medical Respite Program provides recuperative care to people who are experiencing homelessness and being discharged from the hospital.
When Columbus House opened its doors in 1982, it started by providing food and shelter for homeless adults and the many others at risk of homelessness in the state.
Now with multiple locations, this non-profit organization serves families in Middletown, Wallingford, and New Haven. Columbus House is not just any other shelter, however.
It serves as a vital bridge, connecting individuals to essential resources and helping them navigate the path to permanent housing and long-term stability.
“We have a campus setup where we have case management services and benefit specialists who help connect people with Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance if they are eligible,” said Sarah Hoffman, chief development officer of Columbus House.
Columbus House has helped a significant number of residents to secure employment through the comprehensive on-campus employment support services. In addition, the staff provide access to vital resources including recovery facilities for substance abuse, community soup kitchens, and the library, ensuring those needing services receive the comprehensive support they need to thrive.
According to Hoffman, the organization helped more than 400 individuals find permanent housing last year.
“There’s a 13 percent year over year increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness,” added Hoffman.
A typical stay is 90 days at the shelter but with rising housing costs, it has become more challenging to find individuals permanent housing, which leads to a longer stay.
Building on the crucial shelter and resource services Columbus House provides for the homeless, the organization further strengthens its support through the Medical Respite Program, a long-term collaboration between Columbus House and Yale New Haven Health.
Medical Respite provides recuperative care for homeless adults, most of whom are referred as part of preparation for discharge from Yale New Haven Hospital. The services Medical Respite provides has been found to lower public healthcare costs by reducing unnecessary hospitalizations during the 12 months following their stay in the program.
“We pick up and bring clients from the hospital to the shelter where each person gets their own room,” added Hoffman.
Nurses from YNHH are at the shelter every day, helping with medication management, education, and a wellness holistic program.
“Residents have to meet criteria to be eligible and the typical length of the stay for the program is 30 days,” said Jeannette Koziel, MSN, senior nurse practitioner of the Medical Respite Program.
The program has been partnering with Yale New Haven Health’s (YNHHS) InMotion Mobile Pharmacy which provides on-the-spot medical care, testing, and vaccines.
The Medical Respite program has 12 available beds on the third floor of the shelter, with an average of 25 men and 10 women referred to the program each month.
“Every patient has the same human value. It doesn’t matter where someone lives or what road they have taken, their health conditions are the same and every individual deserves excellent medical care,” said Mary Pat Murray, RN, Medical Respite Program.
While some individuals choose to go back on the streets after receiving treatment, others enter Columbus House’s emergency bed services on the first and second floor of Columbus House. Everyone, however, walks out with a renewed sense of self.
“It’s a fulfilling feeling – seeing patients recovering,” said Mirabella Hernandez, RN, Medical Respite Program.
Learn more about Columbus House and the Medical Respite Program
