About Boston Health Care for Homeless Program
Since 1985, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) has been dedicated to providing equitable and dignified access to top-quality health care for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. With a team of over 600 medical and behavioral health professionals, social service providers, and support staff, BHCHP ensures comprehensive, high-quality care for the homeless in Boston and beyond.
Why They Are a 2024 Climate Leader
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) is a team of 600 dedicated professionals with the mission to guarantee comprehensive and compassionate healthcare that meets the unique needs of those who are experiencing homeless. BHCHP addresses the intersection between climate change and the health of the vulnerable population they serve through broader public health initiatives.
Over the past 5-6 years, BHCHP has focused on several community outreach, climate, and justice initiatives aimed at addressing the intersection of homelessness and health care. These initiatives include street medicine and outreach, climate-responsive health care, and justice and health equity. BHCHP's street medicine team has been at the forefront of providing care to rough sleepers in Boston, meeting people where they are—whether under bridges or in parks. The team offers essential services like wound care, vaccinations, and behavioral health support. Their work goes beyond medical care, with efforts to build trust and connect individuals with housing and long-term health care. Recognizing the increasing health risks posed by extreme weather, BHCHP has adapted its outreach to protect vulnerable populations during heatwaves.
BHCHP has a long-standing commitment to health justice, ensuring that homeless individuals receive the same standard of care as housed individuals. This initiative is based on the belief that health care is a matter of justice, not charity. Their community-based model integrates care within mainstream hospitals, ensuring continuity of care for marginalized populations. These initiatives showcase BHCHP’s commitment to addressing both the immediate health needs and the broader social determinants of health that affect Boston’s homeless population. Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program's progress in energy conservation over the past few years is making a mark on the community they serve.
The most impactful initiative, completed in 2021, involved the installation of an electric steamer, achieving a net lifetime savings of over 300,200 kWh. Following this, BHCHP implemented a high-efficiency condensing unit, which added another 29,000 kWh in net lifetime savings. Between 2020 and 2022, they also carried out three lighting retrofit projects, collectively contributing an additional 42,000 kWh in net lifetime savings. Together, these projects represent a significant commitment to sustainability. BHCHP addresses both the social and environmental dimensions of health, actively.
