Improving Physical and Behavioral Health
Homelessness in New Jersey is a public health crisis closely linked to both physical and behavioral health. Our work advances integrated care solutions that improve health outcomes and reduce costs across healthcare and homeless service systems.
Medical Respite
Medical respite provides short-term care for people experiencing homelessness who are well enough to leave the hospital but too medically vulnerable to recover without support. These programs offer a safe place to heal, along with medical oversight, care coordination, medication management, and connections to housing and behavioral health services.
Medical respite improves health outcomes, reduces hospital readmissions, lowers healthcare costs, and helps ensure people can recover with dignity.
NJCEH is working to expand medical respite across New Jersey by supporting program development, strengthening partnerships between hospitals and providers, and advancing sustainable funding solutions, including Medicaid reimbursement. We have helped launch and strengthen programs at the Rescue Mission of Trenton and United Community Corporation (UCC) in Newark and continue to advocate for a sustainable, statewide approach to recuperative care.
Interested in learning more?
Contact info@njceh.org
Integrated Care
Too many people experiencing homelessness are living with untreated mental health and substance use needs, without a realistic way to access care. For years, the homeless system relied on referrals, expecting our most vulnerable neighbors to navigate appointments, transportation, and long waitlists on their own. Too often, that care never materialized.
At NJCEH, we are proud to be working to change that by bringing behavioral health services directly into emergency shelters.
We are leading this work across New Jersey by:
-
Launching on-site behavioral health pilot programs in shelters
-
Working with state agencies and Medicaid partners to make services billable and sustainable
-
Providing technical assistance to help shelters meet licensing requirements and integrate care
-
Expanding training for frontline staff in mental health and crisis response
This approach improves access to care, creates more stable shelter environments, and helps people move toward housing and recovery. It also brings new resources into the system through Medicaid reimbursement.
Our focus now is scaling this model so more shelters can offer on-site care and better meet the needs of the people they serve.
Interested in learning more?
Contact us at info@njceh.org