We provide case consultations, medical respite (short-term housing), and care management to homeless persons in Durham with acute or chronic medical issues who need connection to health care, housing, and other services.
Refer today via this secure form
We accept referrals from local clinics, hospitals or health systems, crisis centers, and emergency and jail medical staff. To refer, please submit information via this secure form, and someone will be in touch within 24 hours (Monday–Friday).
Case consultations
Available for any homeless person with a medical concern impacting discharge or health care services. We provide expert advice regarding appropriate resources for safe hospital discharge or outpatient care.
Medical respite
Provides a safe place to rest and recover and clean bedroom and bathroom, including the option for home health services (when needed and available). We do not operate an independent facility; we contract for placement typically with sober housing in Durham. Persons must be able to live independently (including all ADLs and IADLs) and be willing to comply with rules of the facility.
Care management
Provides engaged community health worker to connect persons to primary and specialty care, mental health and/or substance abuse services, benefits (such as social security disability income, Medicaid, and food stamps), transportation, social supports, and housing.
We partner closely with Lincoln Healthcare for the Homeless Clinic, Housing for New Hope, Alliance Health, Resources for Human Development, DukeWell, and Duke University Health System in the development and ongoing operations of this program. Clients also benefit from the services of Community Empowerment Fund.
Our work is currently made possible by financial support from the Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Durham County Department of Public Health, and Duke University Hospital. We benefit from and support the efforts of the Unlocking Doors Initiative and the Durham Housing Authority to expand housing options for homeless persons, as well as from the Partnership for a Healthy Durham which helped launch a medical respite pilot program.
What we’ve accomplished so far:
78 homeless persons have benefited from case consultations
49 received medical respite (short-term housing after hospital stay)
88 enrolled for case management and connected to health care and medications
23 gained disability income & 27 enrolled in Medicaid
53 improved their housing (including 23 who signed leases!)
Jeffrey (left) in his new home with Housing Specialist Phillip.
Leadership & Staff
Julia Gamble, NP, MPH, Duke Outpatient Clinic, Clinical Director
Donna Biederman, DrPH, RN, Duke University School of Nursing, Evaluation & Education Director
Phillip Miller, Housing Specialist
Laura Alcorn, Nurse Case Manager
For more information, call 919.452.8366.
Refer today via this secure form