Healthcare, Disability, and Social Services
Healthcare & Housing
Healthcare, social services, disability support, and housing are deeply interconnected. Individuals experiencing or who have experienced homelessness often face significant obstacles to accessing consistent, quality healthcare. In turn, this often leads to poorer health outcomes and worsens existing conditions.
This resource page provides essential information and training for housing providers and the broader community. Its goal is to foster a better understanding of, and capacity to address, the comprehensive needs of individuals currently experiencing or with a history of homelessness. Though not exhaustive, these resources serve as an important and valuable starting point.
Table of Contents
Contact HSD-healthcare@multco.us if you have feedback about this page.
Healthcare Resources
Healthcare resources cover a range of services, including details on health insurance, primary care, behavioral health, emergent care, and care for the LGBTQIA+ community and gender-affirming care as well as information on Health-Related Social Needs.
Social Service, Public Benefit, and Disability Resources
Find more information and learn about the programs and services related to Social Services & Public Benefit Resources and Disability and Long-term Care Services.
Homeless Services Department
Cross-Sector Integration Initiatives
Cross-Sector Case Conferencing
Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department (HSD) has a new case management resource for service providers. This program provides shared knowledge and bridges resource connections for homeless service providers to support participants in accessing the healthcare and related services needed to improve housing stability and quality of life.
Office Hours
In addition to expanding the bi-weekly Cross-Sector Case Conferencing to include all HSD-funded providers, the department has partnered with Health Share of Oregon and the City of Portland to create “Office Hours,” a new weekly pilot program. This initiative aims to foster collaboration and care coordination for individuals supported by outreach and shelter providers, facilitating timely, bi-directional information exchange between the homelessness response system and the healthcare system.
Email lisa.rose.gagnon@multco.us to learn more.
Trainings
Explore our upcoming and ongoing training opportunities across homelessness, health, housing and social services. Stay informed, gain and retain knowledge, build skills, and connect with peers and community members to help improve outcomes in the community.
Upcoming Trainings
TBD
Ongoing Trainings
UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHH)
BHHI provides accurate, timely, policy-oriented research about homelessness for local, state, and national policymakers and practitioners. Additionally, they host webinars on topics related to homelessness and health.
The Community Support Network is a non-profit organization that convenes and hosts online webinars and in-person events designed to strengthen the social service. Visit their site to learn more.
Disability Rights Oregon is Oregon’s Protection and Advocacy Organization for people with disabilities. In addition to engaging in individual and systemic advocacy, DRO also publishes numerous Know Your Rights guides on topics spanning housing, mental health, employment, guardianship, service animals, etc.
Get Trained to Help – Mental Health Trainings
Free training on various mental health and harm reduction topics.
Metro’s Regional Housing-Related Training Resources
Oregon Metro hosts a range of training sessions for housing providers, including topics related to health.
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
The National Health Care for the Homeless Council is a national organization working at the intersection of homelessness and health care and hosts webinars and courses on their website.
The Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative(OABHI)
The OABHI is to better meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities by improving timely access to care from qualified providers who work together to provide coordinated, quality and culturally responsive behavioral health and wellness services.Their website includes several training modules as well as information and resources to support aging adults with behavioral health conditions.
Oregon Care Partners is a free, high-quality caregiver education resource. They provide families and care professionals to improve the quality of life and care for older adults and people living with Alzheimer’s in Oregon. They have in-person classes, webinars, and online classes for family members, caregivers, care professionals, and first responders.
Oregon Health Plan Certified Community Partner
Training offered for Medicaid billing and for ‘volunteer’ organizations to support their staff in completing Oregon Health Plan (OHP) applications. Additionally, staff who receive OHP Assister training are able to access the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS), which provides client insurance information.
The Homeless and Housing Resource Center
The Homeless and Housing Resource Center, a program funded by a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), provides valuable resources such as training courses, educational materials, and webinars. These offerings cover a range of important topics, including trauma-informed care and support for individuals with substance use and mental health conditions.
Contact HSD-healthcare@multco.us if you have feedback about this page.