Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program

BHCHP has responded abruptly to the coronavirus pandemic, as it acknowledges the vulnerability of homeless individuals who most often find themselves in crowded conditions. As a result, BHCHP partnered with Boston Hope to manage a 500-patient ward for patients experiencing homelessness. BHCHP also mobilized a clinical team to test patients across the partner sites in the city of Boston. BHCHP also converted their Barbara McInnis House respite program into a caring unit for COVID-19 positive patients, in order to help mitigate hospital density. Since their scope of focus directly correlates with the needs spawned by the pandemic, BHCHP has made the effort to help out through various efforts without losing the core principles of the program. They have also setup a COVID-19 response fund to sponsor the programs combating the coronavirus. BHCHP is aware of the attention and extra resources that the pandemic calls for and has prepared for it in this way.

BHCHP is a program located in 60 sites across the greater Boston area. BHCHP’s primary focus is providing healthcare for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Their network includes Hospital-based clinics, Family Team sites, Jean-Yawkey Place, and Shelter-based clinics. The diverse collection of practice sites spanning across the city of Boston demonstrates BHCHP knowledge of operating where they can access their targeted audience. BHCHP used information provided by the annual homeless census to report the number of homeless families rose by 25% from 2013 to 2015. BHCHP highlights this statistic in order to expand their family care services within their program. BHCHP serves around 1600 adults and children through their family services program. Through building strong connections across the city from a research-based approach, BCHCP program meets the primary care needs for its patients.

BHCHP sponsored programs can be found all throughout neighborhoods in Boston with a framework centered on providing primary healthcare services for homeless individuals and centers its success on treating patients within the health care network that they have constructed. With partners in the medical, educational, and non-profit communities it is able to hold itself responsible from a multilateral perspective. The purpose of the organization is clear, however, it is difficult to portray the full scope of their impact because BHCHP is not an organization but a program that collaborates with partners to fulfill their mission.

BHCHP has been around and existing in Boston since 1985. BHCHP has shown a positive operating margin between $400,000-$3 million over the past three years. They have also had stability in their four major C-level leadership positions over that same timeframe. The organization has a robust board that is publicly identified on their website. The organization clearly state their organizational values including their statement on diversity and inclusion.

BHCHP’S leadership team is catered towards fulfilling the promise of the organization, as well as providing the opportunity for various community members and stakeholders to contribute their input. Along with their Board of Directors and an Executive team comprised of the President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Medical Officer, and Chief Financial Officer BHCHP also boasts a Community Advisory Board made up of 10 homeless or previously homeless individuals to provide feedback on the agenda and policies of the programs under BHCHP control. Their leadership also includes a Philanthropic Advisory Council which provides oversight for fundraising initiatives and an Emerging Leaders Board composed of twenty young professionals from organizations and companies. The Emerging Leaders Board helps increase awareness of BCHCP services, raise critical funds, and by volunteering.