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At the Intersection of Homeless Encampments and Heroin Addiction: Service Use Barriers, Facilitators, and Recommendations from the City of Philadelphia's Encampment Resolution Pilot
Social Work in Public Health (2021)
  • M. Cusack, University of Pennsylvania
  • Fritz Graham, University of Pennsylvania
  • Stephen Metraux, University of Delaware
  • Dennis P Culhane, University of Pennsylvania
  • Dave Metzer, University of Pennsylvania
Abstract
We provide  an overview of the pilot and evaluation measures used for an independent evaluation of the  Encampment Resolution Pilot (ERP) wherein the City of Philadelphia closed two homeless encampments in May 2018 and sought to assist those displaced by the closures with housing and treatment services.  The   evaluation used the Rapid Assessment, Response, and Evaluation method to collect qualitative findings on  service  use  barriers and  facilitators from open-ended  interviews with people staying in the encampments  (N  =   27) and service  providers  (N  =  1 0). We assessed how the  ERP allowed providers to "push the system" by removing access barriers, and  providing amenable,  effective, and accessible housing and drug treat­ment services that led to more widely adopted best practices. However, there was a clear need for additional supportive services and aftercare for those exiting treatment. Providers also cited a need for  more integrated medical and mental health services.

Publication Date
January 21, 2021
DOI
10.1080/19371918.2021.1877591
Citation Information
M. Cusack, Fritz Graham, Stephen Metraux, Dennis P Culhane, et al.. "At the Intersection of Homeless Encampments and Heroin Addiction: Service Use Barriers, Facilitators, and Recommendations from the City of Philadelphia's Encampment Resolution Pilot" Social Work in Public Health (2021) p. 1 - 14
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/dennis_culhane/249/