Overview

  Jump to...
   What is Respite
   Medical needs of
     Homeless
   Closing a Gap in Care
   Population Served
   Staffing
   Partners & Supporters
   History & Growth
   Our Goals
   Results
   Success Stories

  Quicklinks
   Meet our Patients
   Wish List
  

What is Respite?

The Center for Respite Care is a 14-bed 24-hour facility providing medical and nursing care to sick homeless people to promote effective healing. Clients receive quality, holistic medical care and assistance in breaking the cycle of homelessness. Since opening in the fall of 2003, the Center for Respite Care has cared for sick and injured people who are homeless.

Medical Needs of Homeless People

Each year, at least 25,000 people in Hamilton County experience homelessness. On any given night, there are approximately 1,300 people living on the street or in shelters. This exposure to substandard living conditions, inadequate nutrition, extreme weather and limited health care, inevitably leads to serious health problems. After receiving medical treatment, homeless people often have nowhere to go to effectively recover from their illnesses. Prescribed post-hospital care cannot be effectively carried out, resulting in unresolved conditions or complications, repeat emergency room visits or extended hospital stays.

Closing a Gap in Care to Homeless People in Cincinnati Referral Process

The collaborative efforts of many health care and homeless service providers allow the Center to be an important link in the transition from homelessness for many people. Illness or injury does not have to disrupt a homeless person’s progress toward self-sufficiency. By offering appropriate care and referral of patients to post-recovery treatment and/or housing, the Center is an important bridge enabling people without homes to begin or continue on the path to independent living in permanent housing.

Population Served / Geographic Region

The Center for Respite Care currently serves single homeless adults in the Greater Cincinnati area with acute medical needs. Approximately 80% are male, 66% African American, average age is 48, 79% are physically or developmentally disabled and over 80% suffer from behavioral health issues. Less than 20% of Respite clients are on Medicaid or Medicare. Over 50% are chronically homeless.

Staffing

The Center’s staff consists of a Medical Director, a nurse manager (RN), LPNs, nursing assistants, a client care coordinator, licensed counselors and over 100 volunteers.

Partners of Respite

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Health Network, Inc., University Hospital, TriHealth, The Christ Hospital, Mercy Health Partners, Drop Inn Center, Emergency Shelter, University of Cincinnati, SC Ministry Foundation.

History & Growth

Through a collaboration of three major hospital networks and over 25 homeless agencies, the Center for Respite Care opened in October 2003 as a program of the Health Resource Center. The Center for Respite Care, Inc., incorporated on March 17, 2005, separated from the Health Resource Center and began operations as a separate non-profit corporation in May 2005.

• September 2006 – The Center moved to an interim facility as our lease expired at the Center for Chemical Addictions Treatment, our home for the first three years of the program. Garden Park Nursing Home in Avondale is providing a rent-free interim location (3550 Washington Ave) for the next few years.

Our Goals

1. to provide safe shelter and holistic medical care for sick or injured homeless people and to promote effective healing while they recover
2. to prevent the re-hospitalization of clients for related conditions
3. to move clients to appropriate facilities to assist in their transition to self-sufficiency after recovery in the Center for Respite Care.

Results

• Since opening in October 2003, we’ve provided safe shelter and medical care for almost 700 sick, homeless people.
• We’ve also prevented the re-hospitalization of 88% of respite clients for unresolved health conditions/complications compared to 54% pre-Respite.
• We are highly successful at retaining clients in the program until medical recovery is complete compared to a US Government HHS Pilot Study of 10 homeless respites across the country, (78% CRC vs. 41% nationally)
• In the past 18 months we’ve discharged 74% of our clients to more stable housing or treatment after recovery is complete, compared to 29% nationally.

Success Stories

Kevin’s Story
Ben's Story

Meet our Patients