Adapting and supporting equitable access to primary health and social services for people experiencing homelessness

Introduction

This webinar describes the features of primary care models in non-traditional settings that may improve accessibility and appropriateness of care for people experiencing homelessness.

Date and Time

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (GMT-5:00) Central Time

Synopsis

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) face several social and health challenges, including stigma and discrimination, and barriers to access healthcare and navigate health systems. While the health and social consequences of homelessness have received considerable attention in the literature, including their elevated risks of infectious and chronic diseases, we know less about how health systems have adapted and reformed to better meet the needs of PEH.

In this webinar, researchers share findings from a series of rapid reviews that uncovered the types of features of primary care models that may contribute to improved access to primary care for PEH in high-income countries, and promising local practices to improve access to health and social services for PEH.

Learning Objectives:
  • To describe the features of primary care models in non-traditional settings that may improve accessibility and appropriateness of care for people experiencing homelessness
  • To identify a range of approaches taken across high-income countries to innovate or adapt primary care delivery to better meet the needs of this population.
  • To highlight some local promising practices in Ontario, and their features, that are working to improve access to health and social supports for PEH
  • To propose areas for future research and policy attention to better support the health and social needs of PEH

Presenters

Dr. Sara Allin

Sara Allin is an Associate Professor of Health Policy at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. She is also Director of the North American Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (NAO), a collaborative partnership and research centre focussed on sub-national and international health systems research to support evidence-informed policy making. Sara’s research and teaching span comparative health systems and policies, health system performance and health equity.

Monika Roerig

Monika Roerig has been working with the NAO as Research Coordinator since 2019. She holds a Masters of Arts degree in Community Psychology, and has contributed to many research projects and evaluations for a wide variety of stakeholders.