Home health aides are playing a central role in a new NYC Health + Hospitals pilot designed to support medically vulnerable New Yorkers as they transition from homelessness into permanent housing. The Bridge to Care program provides temporary in-home assistance during the gap before Medicaid-funded home care services begin, helping patients remain healthy while adjusting to independent living.
Home Health Aides Support Recovery After Homelessness
Home health aides are helping formerly homeless New Yorkers make a safer transition into permanent housing through a new NYC Health + Hospitals pilot aimed at preventing interruptions in medical care.
The Bridge to Care initiative provides temporary home health aides for medically vulnerable patients during the period between moving into supportive housing and receiving Medicaid approval for long-term home care services.
According to a press release published via NYC Newswire, the pilot has already helped 22 formerly homeless patients move into Fischer Senior Apartments in the Bronx while continuing to receive personalized health support during the critical transition period.
The initiative reflects a growing recognition that stable housing alone is often not enough for patients managing serious medical conditions, particularly during the first several weeks after leaving shelters or hospitals.
Bridge to Care Fills A Critical Healthcare Gap
The Bridge to Care pilot addresses a common challenge faced by patients entering permanent housing.
Although many qualify for Medicaid-funded home care services, approval can take between 45 and 90 days, leaving vulnerable individuals without assistance during a crucial stage of recovery.
During that period, home health aides funded by NYC Health + Hospitals help patients with daily healthcare needs, including:
- Medication management
- Scheduling medical appointments
- Personal care assistance
- Coordinating community services
- Supporting independent living
The pilot launched through a partnership with the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, placing patients into Fischer Senior Apartments, a newly opened 105-unit supportive housing development in the Bronx.
Residents also receive case management, community programming, and access to shared amenities designed to support long-term stability.
Home Health Aides Help Patients Recover Safely
Healthcare leaders say the program recognizes that medical treatment does not end once patients leave the hospital.
“We aim to break the hospital-to-shelter cycle that traps many individuals experiencing homelessness by providing them with housing and services that meet their unique needs,” said Leora Jontef, Senior Assistant Vice President of Housing and Real Estate at NYC Health + Hospitals.
NYC Health + Hospitals Chief External Affairs Officer Deborah Brown said Bridge to Care and Project ASAP represent an important investment in the health of vulnerable New Yorkers while expanding innovative care models beyond traditional hospital settings.
For patients like Edward Johnson, who is undergoing treatment for leukemia, the additional support has made recovery possible.
“When I was diagnosed with leukemia [last year], that changed my whole life,” Johnson said. “It has been about 5 years since I had my own apartment… I don’t think I would have been able to do this on my own. This is the greatest thing since sliced bread for me.”
Healthcare And Housing Continue Working Together
Bridge to Care forms part of Project ASAP (Accelerated Supportive Housing Application and Placement), a broader NYC Health + Hospitals initiative designed to reduce the time patients spend waiting for supportive housing.
Project ASAP helps patients complete the medical evaluations required for supportive housing applications while accelerating placement into permanent homes across New York City.
To date, NYC Health + Hospitals says its Housing for Health initiative has permanently housed more than 1,800 patients.
Programs like Bridge to Care reflect a broader trend in healthcare that increasingly recognizes housing stability, coordinated medical services, and community support as essential components of improving long-term health outcomes.
What Happens Next
NYC Health + Hospitals plans to expand Bridge to Care to serve additional patients entering permanent housing while evaluating how temporary home health aides improve recovery, healthcare access, and long-term housing stability.
Officials will also continue integrating the program with Project ASAP as supportive housing placements increase across New York City.
The pilot demonstrates how home health aides can play an important role beyond traditional home care by helping medically vulnerable New Yorkers remain healthy during one of the most challenging transitions in their lives.
What Readers Want To Know
What is the Bridge to Care program?
Bridge to Care is an NYC Health + Hospitals pilot that provides temporary home health aides to medically vulnerable patients moving from homelessness into permanent housing.
Who qualifies for the program?
The pilot currently serves eligible NYC Health + Hospitals patients transitioning into supportive housing while waiting for Medicaid home care services to begin.
Why are home health aides important during the transition?
Home health aides help patients manage medications, attend appointments, access benefits, and safely adjust to independent living during the weeks before long-term care coverage becomes available.
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