Improve Community Health

Good health is vital to all San Diegans. Issues that face the homeless, such as addiction and mental illness, were once considered social concerns but are now recognized as health problems. The results have devastating consequences for individuals, families and neighborhoods. United Way is leading the charge to eliminate chronic homelessness in our region along with public and nonprofit partners*.

Home Again, our public engagement campaign, encourages San Diegans to support permanent housing for the chronically homeless, along with integrated medical, legal, case management and other services, to help these individuals return to society as contributing citizens.
 
Funded and facilitated by the United Way of San Diego County, Project 25 is a vital and historic collaboration with the County of San Diego and City of San Diego/San Diego Housing Commission. Since Project 25 began in February 2011, St. Vincent de Paul Village has managed and overseen the program, including customized case management for enrolled individuals. By aiding some of the most frequent users of public resources, the program saves taxpayers millions of dollars.

• As of November 2011, Project 25 has enrolled 35 chronically homeless individuals and permanently housed 27.
• The 35 participants used over $4 million in public resources
• Since enrollment began in March 2011, costs have been cut by 75 percent over a six-month period.

  New data is obtained on a regular basis, with current cost savings from March to August 2011 including:
  ► 77 percent reduction in in-patient medical stays2
  ► 72 percent reduction in ambulance rides
  ► 74 percent reduction in ER visits2
  ► 56 percent reduction in arrests
  ► 50 percent reduction in number of jail days 

Our partner in health: Combined Health Agencies (CHAD), a federation representing chapters of 24 local and national health organizations dedicated to providing community services, public and professional education, and funding to support research.
 
*The success of Project 25 is based on its strong partnership with dozens of organizations countywide, including Alpha Project, Alvarado Parkway Institute, County of San Diego District Attorney, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Family Health Centers of San Diego, Paradise Valley Hospital, Promise Hospital, Salvation Army, San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, San Diego Housing Commission, San Diego Police Department, San Diego Rescue Mission, San Diego Medical Services Enterprise, Scripps Health, Sharp HealthCare, UC San Diego Medical Center and the VA Hospital.