Healthcare for the Homeless Program
2222 Simon Bolivar Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70113
504-565-7283
Hours: Monday-Friday
8:00 am-4:00 pm


What Is The Health Care For The Homeless Program (H.C.H.P.)?
The H.C.H.P. is a comprehensive program of services for the homeless in the New Orleans area. Operated by the New Orleans Health Department.

The H.C.H.P. is funded by a Federal grant through the 1987 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, and the city of New Orleans. It is the only health care for the homeless program in the state of Louisiana.

The H.C.H.P. offers primary medical care, case management, mental health, and substance abuse services to the homeless in the greater New Orleans area.

On-Site Services Include:

• Physical exams, medical diagnosis and treatment
• Medications, x-rays and lab tests
• T.B. tests
• Immunizations
• Dental
• HIV testing/counseling
• Health education
• Mental illness diagnosis and treatment
• Substance abuse treatment
• Case Management
• Outreach

Supported Referrals:

• Early, Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis Treatment (E.P.S.D.T.)
• Women, Infants and Children (W.I.C.)
• Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat (St. Thomas)
• Entitlement Enrollment

All patients benefit from the HCHP's affiliation with the Multi-Service Center for the Homeless (MSCH) provides basic need services such as: food, clothing, showers, laundry, storage, mail and telephone access. The MSCH also provides supportive services such as: transitional and permanent housing, job search, remedial education, individual and group counseling, and entitlement assistance.

Together, the HCHP and the MSCH provide a holistic, multi-disciplinary team approach to the complex problems facing homeless individuals and families in the New Orleans area.

Other Service Agencies:

Multi-Service Center for the Homeless (MSCH)
(504) 558-0222

Traveler's Aid Society
(504) 525 -8726

Volunteer Information Agency
24-Hour Crisis Line
(504) 523-2673

Who are the Homeless?
Any individual or family who lacks a fixed, adequate nighttime residence, such as: those whose primary nighttime residence is a shelter a park, a street; an abandoned or public building; a residence that is grossly inadequate or sub-standard.

Others considered homeless are the "hidden homeless", whose primary nighttime residence depends on being doubled or tripled up with relatives or friends in a temporary arrangement, and those discharged from institutions without a place to live.

Why Are They Homeless?

• Severe shortages of affordable housing
• High rage of unemployment; poor local economy
• Low wages, the "working poor", who don't earn sufficient wages to maintain permanent housing
• Sustained cutbacks in assistance programs
• Deinstitutionalization of those with mental illness
• Substance abuse problems
• Abused in former home

How Many Are Homeless?
Nationwide, 3 million Americans - including 500,000 children - are homeless. Millions more live on the brink of homelessness. An M.I.T. study predicted that, if present trends continue, 18 million Americans will be homeless by the year 2003.

According to service providers' statistics, 17,000 to 19,000 men, women and children in the New Orleans area are homeless.

Facts About The Homeless

In New Orleans Approximately:

• 33% are families; most being women with children
• 30% have jobs: part time; seasonal; minimum wage
• 23% have a chronic mental illness
• 50% have substance abuse problems
• 85% are natives of Louisiana, 15% are non-natives
• Less than 10% of the homeless population is homeless by choice or "hard core" homeless.

Rights Of The Homeless

• to be treated with respect
• to receive adequate health care
• to have basic needs met such as: food, clothing and shelter
• to receive supportive care during the transition out of homelessness