What does it take for domestic violence survivors to find safety? Our research shows that once homeless: ➡️ 95% of survivors can’t afford housing ➡️ Violence continues & many are found by abusers Safe, stable housing lets survivors leave—and helps them stay safe. buff.ly/wHS8Yzn #DVAM2025

Healthcare has a crucial role to play in homelessness responses, but it's not enough. "Treating illness against a background of homelessness feels like a no-win situation," says Dr. Maria Raven, who has cared for patients experiencing homelessness for two decades. Learn more:

Many pediatric readmissions are linked to housing + transportation insecurity, but standard data undercounts these risks. UCSF research shows combining structured + unstructured data gives better insights + tools for care. buff.ly/j8ki4ad #SDOH #NLP

“What is new here is the option of the oversize vehicle buy back,...” says BHHI Director Margot Kushel. “It recognized...that people would not trade in their most valuable asset for something that felt less stable and safe (...congregate shelter...short-term housing voucher).” buff.ly/J9CwdKj

“They tended to be working poor people who were doing their best, then something happened,” says BHHI Director Dr. Margot Kushel. “People think it is all about substance use or mental health, but often it is affordability, health, or loss of support.” buff.ly/S7w2n7A #Aging #RV #homeless

Without stable housing, everything is harder—seeing a doctor, working, staying connected—all take a back seat to survival. Housing is the foundation that makes health, work, and community possible. For some, housing is the full answer. For others, it’s not. But it’s where solutions begin for all.

Systemic barriers—from discrimination and documentation challenges to family separation—make Latine Californians vulnerable to homelessness. #HispanicHeritageMonth is a reminder that equity must guide solutions. Learn more: buff.ly/bh7NmWT

Another example of cities leading the way by following the research! Key to this #encampment resolution: 💵 $ for RVs preserves value from biggest asset 🛏️ Private rooms provide safety & autonomy 🩷 Flexibility keeps loved ones + pets together When offers meet needs, people say yes. buff.ly/viwyY8G

The gap between wages and housing prices is pushing more and more workers into homelessness, BHHI Director Dr. Margot Kushel told Fox News in Sept. "People want to be in the labor market...but housing is the root of all safety and security. Without housing, everything else falls apart." Watch ⬇️

✅ Many cities are making progress on homelessness by following the research. One example: ➡️ Homelessness in Sonoma County is down 23% from last year, due in part to the 400 permanent housing units they added. Federal funding cuts may undo this progress.

People experiencing homelessness have poor health, struggle to access care & face high ER and hospitalization rates—despite high rates of insurance. What happens when Medicaid cuts make things worse? Explore current challenges: buff.ly/atxK3fU Stay tuned for our expanded report—coming soon!

Imagine finally having a safe place to live after years without one—yet still feeling deeply alone. Nearly 40% of #olderadults with homelessness histories report #loneliness, vs 25% overall. Housing alone isn’t enough—people need support for healing & connection. New BHHI Study: buff.ly/Dr4VxKa

New report by @naehomelessness.bsky.social: ➡️ Low incomes, lack of affordable housing & weak safety nets continue to drive record-high rates of homelessness. ➡️ We don't have enough housing/services to keep up. ➡️ Homelessness is solvable—if we invest in research-backed solutions. buff.ly/Y1i3erT

Housing costs are squeezing Latinas in CA: over half are rent-burdened, and 1 in 4 spend more than half their income on rent. @calbudgetcenter.org warns federal housing cuts would make this even harder. Learn more about #homelessness among #Latine communities: buff.ly/CscB0so

Our research—from the largest homelessness study in decades— found only 37% of people experiencing homelessness used drugs regularly in the past 6 months. Many want treatment but can’t get it—housing is key to recovery. Read more: buff.ly/YttYvL7 @ucsanfrancisco.bsky.social #RecoveryMonth

On #GrandparentsDay, we celebrate the love and wisdom of older generations. Yet too many older adults face homelessness, with health challenges far beyond their years. Everyone deserves a safe home to age with dignity. Learn about their unique challenges + data-backed solutions: buff.ly/yyTcph3

"Incarcerating the people sleeping outside...in the U.S. would take nearly $18 billion per year." "For...half that...we could house the 84% of people who experience homelessness but receive no housing...because the system is chronically underfunded." -Margot Kushel/Samantha Batko. buff.ly/o0MYTuz

Research shows that people living in RVs want permanent housing but don't want to give up their biggest asset for a temporary shelter stay. Berkeley is testing another path—RV buybacks + private rooms that allow people to bring loved ones & pets. Early results: 56 people indoors.

"We know that you can very effectively resolve encampments by bringing the services and housing that people...need," BHHI Director Dr. Margot Kushel tells ABC10. It may take more than 30 days, but if you build trust and "...offer [people] real things, they will accept it."

On #LaborDay, we recognize the essential workers who keep our economy moving—including gig workers. New BHHI research shows how unstable income, lack of protections, and high costs leave many #gigworkers one paycheck away from #homelessness. Learn more: buff.ly/frwz8W6 #workerprotections

"Instead of focusing on a choice between 'abstinence or harm reduction,' I encourage a reframing...in medicine, there is no one-size-fits-all...why not first explore the patient's goals and offer options based on their needs?" says Dr. Leslie Suen. #InternationalOverdoseAwarenessDay

On #NationalGriefAwarenessDay, we're thinking about the immense weight of losing "home". Earlier this year, in the wake of the devastating LA fires, BHHI Director Dr. Margot Kushel joined KCRW to discuss trauma, resilience, and why our homes are integral to who we are. Listen: buff.ly/e1igDHf

One reason progress on homelessness feels slow: we spend on things that don't work. When viewed side-by-side, investing in evidence-based homeless services is far more effective than quick "fixes" like arrests & fines. Recent @naehomelessness.bsky.social analysis compares the two approaches.

Rob Robinson’s story shows how quickly job loss can lead to homelessness—our latest research confirms this is common. Decades of evidence support proven solutions like housing + services for those who need them—not sweeps or arrests. Read his op-ed buff.ly/ywjtPJY Read study buff.ly/1k6qZBd

Our recent study shows that people experiencing homelessness are struggling to access the #healthcare and medication they need. #Medicaid cuts will make access to care even harder. Read in JAMA: buff.ly/atxK3fU #CASPEH #PublicHealth

We just joined Threads—come hang out with us! 🆕 Threads: buff.ly/45DZqbU Other places you can find us: 💼 LinkedIn: buff.ly/CLfy1ZV 📰 Newsletter: buff.ly/YyMQxqK

Housing First works — even for those with complex needs. Our evaluation in Santa Clara Co. found PSH kept 86% of participants housed long-term, with ↓ psych ED & shelter use, ↑ MH care. Other studies have shown similar results. Read SC study: buff.ly/I45hfRv More on BH: buff.ly/rt008lU

Reminder: Involuntary sweeps of #homeless encampments in Denver didn’t reduce #crime. "...I believe the lessons learned are generalizable and can be applied in other cities around the country that are struggling with what to do with encampments,” said @jabarocas.bsky.social. (1/2)

Why are so many working people losing their homes? New BHHI research finds lost wages are a major driver. Layoffs, illness, unstable gig work, housing-linked jobs, and other disruptions push many into homelessness—showing why stronger prevention strategies are critical. Learn more: buff.ly/frwz8W6

Stable housing can improve health and save lives. #Veterans who gained housing were 2x more likely to get cancer screenings—key for early detection, fewer emergency surgeries, and better outcomes. New study by BHHI, UCSF, Stanford, US Dept of #Vet Affairs, VA Palo Alto Healthcare. buff.ly/hLjZN3i

As we continue to see shifts away from proven solutions like housing + services, University of Pennsylvania Professor Dennis Culhane reminds us: ➡️ "We did that and it failed. It’s the whole reason Housing First came about."

“Criminalization worsens homelessness,” says BHHI Director Dr. @m.kushel.bksy.social. “The public should...say, ‘Why are you taking expensive efforts to worsen a problem? This problem is 40 years in the making.” buff.ly/054WPAr

We all want our neighbors to live safely indoors, but forcing people from place to place without housing creates more problems than it solves. There are better ways to navigate urgent encampment issues while advancing long-term solutions to homelessness. ➡️ Learn how: buff.ly/xLSAvSj

“What I struggle with is the lack of resources,” says Gemmill. “Where do we send them? So then, they’re back on the street and it’s happening all over again.”

Why are so many people being pushed into homelessness? ☑️ Nearly half of all U.S. workers now earn less than the hourly wage needed to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment. ☑️ In CA, workers must earn nearly $50 an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment.

"From the get-go, it was important to me that I not do the kind of research that sat on the shelf," says BHHI Director Dr. Margot Kushel. Learn more about her journey and why connecting research to action is so important on the first episode of @arcforequity.bsky.social's new podcast.

"Americans want there to be no homelessness. And this is...a formula to worsen homelessness," says BHHI Director Dr. Margot Kushel of efforts to expand involuntary detentions & withdraw funding from communities that don't comply. Housing + services is cheaper and proven effective.

"If we were serious about ending homelessness rather than just removing people from public view, we would invest in approaches that have...success rates, like Housing First, and...make those investments at the scale needed to address the issue nationwide," says NAEH CEO, Ann Oliva. buff.ly/bePQy8N

It's easy to understand concerns about changes to the neighborhood when new types of housing are added. But studies on permanent supportive housing have shown crime does not increase in the surrounding neighborhoods, says BHHI Director Dr. Margot Kushel.

Tobacco-related diseases are the leading cause of death for PSH residents. New paper shows: • High rates of poly-tobacco use & co-morbidities • Positive views on smoke-free policies linked to smoke-free home efforts • Serious mental illness is a barrier Tailored support is critical. buff.ly/fCR42xZ

People are homeless primarily because they can't afford housing. We know how to solve homelessness, but with deep cuts...we’re moving in the wrong direction, says BHHI Director Dr. Margot Kushel. "Taking a chainsaw to the healthcare safety net...will only add to the homeless count."

This crisis arose from 45 years of really mistaken policies, where we underinvested in affordable housing...health care, mental health care...And when it takes 45 years to create a crisis, it's unrealistic, unfortunately, to think it can be ended overnight," says Dr. Margot Kushel.

35 years after the ADA, accessible housing and shelter remain out of reach for many. 1 in 3 Californians experiencing homelessness struggle with daily living activities. Many report that their mobility challenges limit housing and shelter options. It’s crucial to address these gaps. #ADA35

It's difficult for people with untreated substance use disorders to stay in shelters because addiction doesn't allow you to "stop on a dime,” says Dr. Margot Kushel. “It looks like they’re refusing shelter", when, in fact, “they’re telling you ‘that doesn’t meet my needs.’” buff.ly/PboRGBm

What does it mean to be working, but still homeless? BHHI Director Dr. Margot Kushel joined author Brian Goldstone on KQED Forum this week to talk about hidden homelessness and what needs to change. 🎧 Listen in:

Small health problems become big without the stability of a home. "There's no question in my mind that people's health improves dramatically once they're housed," says @mkushel.bksy.social. Read our team's recent investigation to learn more about access barriers: buff.ly/fglcw2a

Happening now! @mkushel.bsky.social is live on KQED's Forum w/ Brian Goldstone to discuss his new book and what it means for homelessness in the Bay! 🎧 Listen now: www.kqed.org/forum 🎧 Listen Later: Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/k... YouTube: www.youtube.com/@KQEDnews/po...

⏰ Tomorrow at 9AM PT! BHHI Director @mkushel.bsky.social and ‪@brian-goldstone.bsky.social‬, author of "There Is No Place for Us: Working & Homeless in America," talk homelessness with @alexis-madrigal.bsky.social on @kqedforum.bsky.social. Don't miss it! www.kqed.org/forum

Can direct cash support improve housing stability, health, and well-being for families experiencing homelessness or housing instability? We're evaluating a #guaranteedincome program in the Silicon Valley to find out! Learn why this study is so important and what we know so far: 🔗 buff.ly/8h462dy

70% of Californians experiencing homelessness smoke & long-standing cessation treatments may be missing them. Our team released a new research report highlighting the urgent need for tobacco treatment in both clinical and outreach settings. buff.ly/vyvZE2T #smokingcessation #cardiovascularhealth