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Housing First: Toronto Program Slashes Hospital Costs
1 Oct
Summary
- Toronto's Dunn House offers permanent housing to frequent hospital users.
- The program saw a 52% reduction in emergency room visits post-housing.
- Hospital costs for residents dropped by $1.66 million annually.
A unique permanent housing program in Toronto, Dunn House, is poised for a major expansion to support 300 individuals. This initiative primarily serves homeless people with frequent emergency department visits.
Preliminary data from the program's 51 residents indicates significant improvements. Following their move into Dunn House, emergency room visits decreased by 52% annually, and hospital stays were 79% shorter.
This approach is not only more humane but also cost-effective. The 48 patients who moved into Dunn House incurred $2.1 million in hospital costs over 12 months prior, with savings reaching $1.66 million in the year after. The expansion is a collaborative effort involving federal, provincial, and city governments, alongside the hospital network.
