Resident Referrals

Referral Criteria | How to Make a Referral | What Happens Next

Joseph & Mary’s Home (JMH) provides short-term medical respite care for adults experiencing homelessness who are recovering from an acute illness or injury. We offer a safe, supportive environment where individuals can stabilize and heal before transitioning back to the community.

JMH is a voluntary, short-term program and is best suited for individuals who are interested in taking the next step in their health and healing journey. Residents are expected to engage in their care, participate in a shared living environment, and work toward stability during their stay.

Below you will find dropdowns that address how to make a referral; who we are both able to serve and not serve at Joseph & Mary’s Home; and what comes after a resident is admitted, including the support and pathway to housing that is a possibility. We encourage you to review these dropdowns and to complete the pre-screen form (coming soon) so together, we can best help Northeast Ohio’s neighbors in need to heal and recover.

Important Notes for Referral Partners

Please help us support your clients and patients by providing as much complete and accurate information as possible. JMH is a small, shared living environment, and each new admission directly impacts the safety and well-being of current residents.

Joseph & Mary’s Home provides:

  • 11 rooms for men (Joseph’s Home)
  • 10 rooms for women (Mary’s Home)

Providing complete information upfront helps us make timely decisions and reduces delays in placement.

How to Make a Referral

Step 1: Complete the Pre-Screen

Begin by completing the pre-screen (form coming soon!) to determine basic eligibility before gathering documentation.

If you are unsure about any criteria, we encourage you to complete the pre-screen—it will guide next steps. We also encourage you to review the Referral Criteria Tab.

Every pre-screen submitted to Joseph & Mary’s Home will be reviewed. Once you submit the pre-screen, a member of our Care Team will respond to you and let you know whether or not to continue with the next steps in the referral process.


Step 2: Submit a Release of Information (ROI)

If the individual is determined to be eligible after the pre-screen is completed, eligible referrals will be prompted to submit a signed Release of Information (ROI). This allows the Joseph & Mary’s Home staff to communicate directly with the referral source, the potential resident and any relevant providers to complete the full referral process, including gathering any additional clinical or discharge information.


Step 3: Complete the Referral Form

Submit the full referral, including all available medical records and discharge documentation.


Step 4: Referral Review Process Happens

Under the supervision of our Medical Director, all referrals are reviewed on an ongoing basis by the JMH Care Team, including the Executive Director, Registered Nurse, Social Work, Community Health Worker and Peer Specialist.

Referral Criteria

To ensure we are providing the appropriate level of care, all referrals must meet the following criteria:

Criteria #1: Basic Eligibility

  • Must be 18 years of age or older
  • Must be able to provide documentation of United States citizenship
  • Must be registered as homeless through FrontLine Service Coordinated Intake & HMIS system

Helpful note: If the individual is not yet registered in HMIS, please complete that step prior to referral submission; you can click here for more information. This is required for admission.


Criteria #2: Medical Need

  • Must have an acute medical respite need, meaning support recovering from a short-term illness or injury
  • Chronic comorbid conditions (e.g., COPD, diabetes, emphysema) may be present, but cannot be the primary reason for referral

Examples of appropriate referrals include:

  • Post-hospital discharge requiring recovery time
  • Wound care follow-up
  • Recovery after surgery or acute illness


Criteria #3: Functional Ability, Community Living & Program Fit

Because JMH is a shared, home-like environment and not a clinical or secured facility, residents must be able to safely function independently and be appropriate for the level of care we provide.

Residents must:

  • Be able to complete Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) independently, including:
    • Ambulating (with or without assistive devices)
    • Using the restroom independently
    • Managing personal hygiene
    • Managing and taking any non-controlled substances like antibiotics
  • Be appropriate for a communal living environment, including:
    • Being oriented to time and place
    • Engaging safely with staff and other residents
    • Participating in a respectful, shared living space

Those Who Cannot Be Best Served at JMH

Referrals with convictions for sexual offenses, arson, or violent crimes are not accepted.

To ensure appropriate placement, JMH also cannot accept individuals who require:

  • Detox or substance use withdrawal management
  • Help bathing, changing clothing, or maintaining basic quality of life requirements
  • Inpatient or acute psychiatric care
  • Skilled nursing or long-term medical care

Given that JMH does not currently provide behavioral health or psychiatric care, we are not able to accept individuals with severe or acute behavioral health needs, including:

  • Recent suicidal or homicidal ideation
  • Active psychosis or untreated psychotic symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking)
  • Diagnosed psychotic disorders requiring intensive or ongoing psychiatric support, including schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, brief psychotic disorder, or delusional disorder)
  • Acute psychiatric instability that would require close clinical monitoring, crisis intervention, or inpatient-level care

If behavioral health needs are present but stable (including individuals who are appropriately medicated, engaged in care, and able to function safely in a community setting) and not the primary driver of care, please include detailed context in your referral so our team can make an informed determination.

What Happens Next?

Referrals are reviewed on a rolling basis Monday–Friday. After the Care Team reviews a referral, someone may reach out for additional information or clarification.

If accepted, we will coordinate admission timing directly with you. New admissions are scheduled Monday through Thursday between 9 AM and 3 PM.

Housing Pathway & Support

JMH provides an optional pathway for residents who are interested in transitioning to stable housing. While we are not an affordable housing provider and cannot guarantee housing placement for every resident, we are committed to walking alongside residents and community partners who are working toward housing stability.

Our team, including a Licensed Social Worker and Community Health Worker, supports residents in navigating the often complex and bureaucratic steps required to secure housing, including:

  • Obtaining identification documents (state ID, Social Security card, birth certificate)
  • Connecting to housing resources and community-based programs
  • Coordinating with referral partners and housing providers
  • Supporting discharge planning with a focus on stability and continuity

Our goal is to ensure that, whenever possible, residents leave JMH better positioned to access and maintain stable housing.