A Study on the Integrated Medical Support for the Homeless People and Policy Planning for Re-settlement in the Community

Abstract

Homeless people are experiencing serious medical problems compared to other groups, but it is difficult to expect good effects of emergency medical services due to extremely poor housing. Traditionally, facilities have been provided as a recovery space. However, in recent years, the view of a housing-first approach has been adopted with treatment and care next as a policy direction in many countries for the homeless. This study aims to find ways to support them with community settlement by establishing a system for integration of appropriate medical coverage and housing security for homeless people in need of medical support. This study conducted a review of the medical and community rehousing support literature for the homeless, foreign cases, domestic related status, field expert advisory meetings, and current status surveys. Policy proposals are presented by dividing them into comprehensive policy and support directions for each field. In the comprehensive policy directions, it is proposed to build an integrated and systematic system, to improve the quality of services, to expand priority support and community services for the homeless, to change the perspective on homeless diseases, to combine professionalism and field sense, and to emphasize continuity of medical and housing support. In addition, regarding the site of street homeless people, it is proposed to make it mandatory to form a mental health support team, to improve the medical security system to strengthen medical access, to build emergency shelters, to establish case management and discharge plans, and to develop recovery care programs. Regarding the living facilities, proposals are made for building a pilot model for expansion of housing support in connection with other areas, for changing the role of facilities for community settlement, for establishing individual plans, and for expanding the support for de-facilities. Finally, this study emphasizes that the central government should mainly construct models and guidelines, while local governments should carry out responsible execution thereof.