Chicago House-Howard Brown Health Partnership Addresses Interconnected Participant Needs

Chicago House ensures that our clients not only survive, but also thrive. Addressing social determinants of health—factors such as race, income, education, and geographic location—is critical to an individual or family’s ability to thrive. In a coordinated effort to reduce barriers to access and offer an optimal mode of care for our participants, we partner with other organizations, such as Howard Brown Health, to integrate services that address social determinants of health in medical settings.

Since 2018, Howard Brown has funded two Chicago House career specialists to work in their clinics on the North and South Sides. At the outset of this co-location partnership, Chicago House career specialists were able to meet with and refer folks to employment resources at the same time as they engaged in medical care with Howard Brown. In early 2021, Chicago House added three new housing specialists who work full-time in Howard Brown clinics in Englewood and Rogers Park. The partnership expanded even further to serve individuals regardless of HIV status.

This partnership offers greater linkage to care for both Chicago House clients and Howard Brown patients. “Many Howard Brown patients experience housing instability and homelessness,” says Avi Rudnick, Chicago House’s director of Scattered-Site Housing. “A large percentage are from LGBTQ communities who typically do not access shelters due to a lack of affirming services.”

When a Howard Brown physician recognizes that a client needs access to other resources, such as housing, they can easily refer them to a Chicago House housing specialist. These frontline staff then secure a stronger understanding of the needs of the client and help them gain access to resources such as housing, employment, and even legal support. Housing specialists often help individuals apply for other benefits, like Social Security and Disability Insurance (SSDI), and navigate other resources while they assist with paperwork and shelter or permanent housing eligibility requirements.

“Providing housing information is key to supporting self-determination and reduces the harm caused by limited housing access and resources,” remarks Rudnick.

Our partnership with Howard Brown expands access to numerous services, from medical and HIV care to housing and employment support, for Chicago House and Howard Brown clients alike. By addressing individuals’ social determinants of health and paying attention to their interconnected needs, we can better and more holistically support their well-being.