Kaiser Permanente Pledges $25M To Combat Homeless Crisis

OAKLAND, CA — Kaiser Permanente has committed $25 million to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s newly announced fund to combat homelessness in California, the first private sector contribution to the effort.

The governor completed a tour of the state this week to get a first-hand look at homelessness, and the challenges and efforts underway in besieged cities.

Kaiser Permanente says that this pledge builds on the $200 million in investments it has announced in recent years in support of community health, mainly focusing on affordable housing.

“Chronic homelessness has been shown to cut 27 years from the average life span and is associated with communicable diseases such as hepatitis and typhus, increased hospitalizations, and frequent readmissions,” said Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Greg Adams. “Safe and stable housing is key to a person’s physical, mental, and social health, so we applaud the governor’s plan to address homelessness. Our investment in the fund aligns with Kaiser Permanente’s overall strategy to preserve affordable housing and prevent displacement of existing residents, while addressing the root causes of homelessness in our communities.”

Newsom announced the creation of the $750 million California Access to Housing and Services Fund on Jan. 8, seeking the assistance of corporate and philanthropic organizations to expand the fund. It will be used for such efforts as paying rent for individuals experiencing homelessness or on the verge of losing housing; support local governments to develop additional low-income housing units; and help stabilize board-and-care facilities that house multiple people.

“The homelessness crisis impacts every community in California and it’s on all of us to step up and lean in to find solutions. Just nine days after challenging California’s philanthropic and private sectors to partner with the state, Kaiser Permanente answered the call,” said Newsom. “I thank Kaiser Permanente’s leadership for meeting this moment head on with $25 million and joining with local and state efforts to get Californians off the street and into housing and health services.”

Kaiser Permanente point out that homelessness increases the level and amount of care the health system must provide. Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma are tough to manage without housing.

“As a nonprofit integrated health system, we have strived to create total health for our members and our communities, and we know without a place to call home it is nearly impossible to maintain health,” said Cynthia Telles, of the Kaiser Foundation. “Kaiser Permanente has moved beyond hospital walls to improve the lives of people in the communities we serve.”

Kaiser Permanente’s previous efforts include a plan to house 515 Oakland adults who are battling chronic health conditions; and a partnership to end chronic homelessness in 24 communities that it serves.

Also See:

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• Homeless Services Increase In Contra Costa County
• Homeless Navigation Center To Open In Mid-2020