UCSF Citywide Case Management Programs

If successful, our project will make substantial headway in helping to resolve a range of legal issues facing our clients by addressing (1) eviction, (2) problematic housing conditions, (3) denial of public benefits, and (4) housing discrimination, which impact their ability to remain in a safe, stable home. Housing-related issues have a substantial impact on physical and mental health. Re-housing of homeless individuals reduces health expenditures and, for those with serious mental illness, improves key mental health outcomes. The Citywide Medical-Legal Partners Project will support a range of efforts to secure and protect housing for our clients by leveraging the expertise of on-site legal counsel. By creating and implementing a systematic screening process, we expect to identify threats to housing earlier, thus preventing homelessness. Additionally, through formal trainings and consultation, our MLP will be a source of ongoing education and training to our clinical teams. This dissemination of our legal partner’s expertise will build the capacity of our clinical staff, allowing them to more effectively recognize, triage, and assist in resolving legal needs over time. Lastly, we have developed a plan to rigorously evaluate the performance of our program, institute continuous quality improvement, and identify best practices to contribute to the evidence base for this innovative approach. The Citywide Medical-Legal Partnership Project will support a range of ongoing efforts to secure housing for our clients by providing a systematic process to utilize legal counsel where relevant. Because screening will be a core part of our process, we expect to identify eviction threats earlier, reducing the risk of homelessness for our clients. By assisting in the resolution of other legal matters such as benefits denial and employment discrimination, we will further empower our clients to obtain and maintain housing by alleviating other financial and legal threats that may place housing at risk. Additionally, through formal trainings and regular staff consultation, our MLP will be a source of ongoing education and training for case management staff, employment specialists, physicians, and other personnel. This dissemination of our legal partner’s expertise will build the capacity of our clinical staff, allowing them to more effectively recognize, triage, and assist in resolving legal needs over time.