With the opening of Mary’s Home in 2022, the number of adults Joseph & Mary’s Home was able to reach expanded significantly, with 119 men and women served in residence and the community. Sixty-two percent of residents were medically stable upon discharge and 90% of alumni exited to and remained in a stable setting. The list of outcomes in 2022 is highlighted in the recent issue of The Journey, the biannual newsletter of Joseph & Mary’s Home.

The full text of the 2022 outcomes article that appears in the newsletter is below or available here in the full newsletter.

Back to Health, Forward to Housing: 2022 Outcomes

Impact and Resident Demographics
Joseph & Mary’s Home provides medical respite care for medically-fragile adults experiencing homelessness. All of the people we served are, at time of admittance, without housing and are experiencing an acute medical condition that has led to repeated emergency room visits or hospitalization. In March 2022, we expanded to serve women with the opening of Mary’s Home, which reached full occupancy in July.

In 2022, the men and women served were most often older adults, with a physical and/or mental health disability and at least one chronic health condition.

  • 119 adults served in residence and in the community
  • 83 days, average length of stay
  • 100% were homeless, according to HUD’s definition
  • 27% were considered chronically homeless
  • 60% are over the age of 55
  • 60% are African-American
  • 12% are veterans
  • 80% have a physical disability
  • 75% have a diagnosed severe mental illness
  • 55% have a substance use disorder
  • 97% have a chronic health condition

Health & Well-Being Outcomes
Medical stability is measured by improvements made when a resident is at Joseph & Mary’s Home. Some markers of stability are more easily identifiable than others, such as coming in with an open wound and having the wound heal, or coming in with uncontrolled diabetes and leaving with their health stabilized and regularly taking medication as prescribed. Other markers are less obvious but can still be measured, like a reduction in outward symptoms.

  • 62% of residents were medically stable when exiting Joseph & Mary’s Home
  • 71% of residents demonstrated improvement in medication management
    Note: Residents are encouraged to take at least 90% of their medications each week. Some residents may struggle with acceptance of their conditions or stigma associated with their illness. Staff members support and coach residents on the importance of medication to overall health and wellness to help build good medication habits.
  • 79% of residents demonstrated improvement in knowledge of medical condition
  • 76% of residents improved self-care ability
  • 26% of residents increased their incomes or obtained new/increased benefits

Housing Outcomes
Housing stability is measured by the percentage of people who exit to permanent housing and remain in that housing for a period of six months or longer. Some residents exit Joseph & Mary’s Home to higher levels of care, such as assisted living, which may be more appropriate based on their medical conditions. Ultimately, the goal is to exit residents to housing situations that end their homelessness for good.

  • 63% exited to a stable setting, including 40% of residents who moved directly into permanent rental housing of their own
  • 90% of alumni remain in stable housing after exiting