CHRIST HOUSE
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Mission Statement
Christ House provides comprehensive and compassionate health care to sick, homeless persons in the District of Columbia, and to assist them in addressing critical issues to help break the cycle of homelessness.
About This Cause
We fulfill our mission by providing loving and dignified hospitality that supports patients in their healing. Christ House offers holistic care (medical care, case management, substance use disorder recovery, pastoral care, food, lodging, social activities, and transportation to and coordination of outside medical care), empowering individuals on their path to stability, and creating a community that delivers and sustains this radical hospitality. Christ House is a 24-hour, 33-bed, full-care medical home welcoming single, homeless men with an acute medical need. Simply put, our patients are too sick to be on the streets or in a shelter, but are not sick enough to be in the hospital. Of our 229 patients in 2019, 97 percent had three or more conditions. This includes individuals with mental illness (36 percent of patients) and addiction to drugs, alcohol or both (58 percent of patients). Christ House delivers a broad array of services and activities to support patients in achieving a complete recovery. The core activity is the Medical Services Program in which single, homeless men with an acute medical needs receive in-house, 24-hour nursing care. Most of our patients are referred to us from hospitals (44 percent), DC shelters (18 percent), or the street (19 percent). Upon admission, patients receive a complete physical from our nurse practitioner. From this evaluation an individual health plan is developed that promotes patients’ self-care ability and compliance with medical recommendations. Patients are then assigned to a medical care team that addresses all health areas. Common conditions causing admission are: recovery from injuries (fractures, wounds, and burns), diabetes, cancer, respiratory conditions, and hypertension. Medical teams meet weekly to discuss patients’ current health, upcoming appointments, progress in addictions recovery (if applicable), and discharge plans. Additionally, we facilitate weekly in-house psychiatric appointments for patients with mental health needs. Each Christ House patient is addressed in a comprehensive, holistic manner and may stay as long as their illness requires. In 2019, patients’ average length of stay was 37 days. Our Patient Transportation Program ensures patients safely reach their outside medical or essential appointments. Staff and volunteer escorts may accompany patients to assist them in navigating the health care system and ensuring they receive all the medical care they need. To enhance patients’ recovery, case managers work with patients to obtain legal documents, apply for government benefits, have appropriate health insurance coverage, locate family members, and, as possible, secure housing upon discharge. When Medical Services concludes that a patient needs long-term care, case managers work to obtain a nursing home placement, adult day health program referrals or personal care assistance Clinical staff and case managers may refer patients to Christ House’s New Day Recovery Program, which provides patients an opportunity to initiate their recovery from drug and alcohol addictions. Approximately 58 percent of our patients have substance use disorder. The program includes our nine-week, intensive in-house course led by a certified addictions counselor, access to multiple on-site Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, one-on-one counseling and peer-support. Christ House provides patients intensive, one-on-one care, in conjunction with education, advocacy, and other broad supports. Together, these services and the hospitality of Christ House addresses all of our patients’ concerns and places them in the best possible position to recover their health. The overall, successful implementation of our Medical Services Program results in improved outcomes and reduced suffering for our patients, but also improved community health and a more efficient use of resources by avoiding costly and unnecessary hospitalizations. Began in 1992, the Kairos Program is a permanent residential community for former patients with chronic illnesses who are committed to a life of sobriety and fellowship. The program offers holistic services like health care, substance use disorder recovery, spiritual guidance, and meaningful service opportunities at Christ House. In 2019, Kairos added five new members, growing the community to 41 members in total.