The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72265

Peter Beilenson, MD, MPH¹, Melisa Lindamood, MPS², Nicole C. Rolley, PhD², and Cara Fuller². (1) Baltimore City Department of Health, 210 Guilford Ave., 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, (2) Baltimore City Health Department, 210 Guilford Avenue, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202

While the issue of homelessness is a problem that municipalities face year round, the concern is particularly acute when weather conditions become life threatening. Baltimore requests all shelters to expand beyond capacity throughout the winter, but the most vulnerable homeless population, those effected by mental illness and/or substance abuse issues are often not welcome by the City’s predominately dry shelter system. In 2002, a mild winter, Baltimore had eight deaths caused by hypothermia. Baltimore’s Code Blue Emergency Response Plan is a coordinated interagency approach to provide short-term shelter, transportation, and outreach in an event of a cold weather emergency. It also provides an opportunity to connect the City’s homeless with relevant services. Once activated, Code Blue involves several government agencies, including Health, Housing, Social Services, and Police. Nonprofits specializing in mental and physical health, and substance abuse treatment also play an integral role in outreach and treatment. Various partners utilize their outreach teams, including a specialized interagency Death Prevention Team, in a strategic attempt to connect the homeless with shelter. Once all shelters are at capacity, and in the event that the clients have issues that prevent them from access to the traditional shelter system, they are brought to the Code Blue Emergency Shelter. This wet shelter provides food, clothing, and mental and physical health screenings. It also provides the clients with access to substance abuse treatment, social services, and housing opportunities. Averaging over 100 clients per night, Code Blue is showing early signs of success in dramatically reducing hypothermia.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to:
• Identify 3 barriers to providng health care to homeless populations;
• Identify 3 challenges to administering a cold weather emergency response plan in an urban setting;
• Discuss the opportunities for public/private partnerships in providing emergency services to homeless populations.

Keywords: Homeless, Public Health Administration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.