Homeless Healthcare Needs: Pre and Post WPC Pilot Study Comparison

• Main Author: Johnson, Wanda H
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2021
• Subjects: Health care management
• ISBN: 9798505543351

Evidence of the rapidly increasing prevalence of homelessness in America can be observed by the large numbers of people living on our Nation’s streets. The State of California in 2015 approved the Whole Person Care (WPC) Pilot Program. This 5-year program aimed to coordinate health services for California Medicaid recipients. This Qualitative Phenomenological study was based on Attachment Theory as a framework. Data collection through semi-structured interviews addressed the effect of WPC on the people experiencing homelessness (PEH) population. This study consisted of three stages: first, conducting a close examination of the problem of homelessness within the San Francisco Bay Area through policy and literature review. The second phase was to collect information in 2016 and 2020 from homeless care providers within the representative county setting regarding providers’ perceptions of the social, economic, physical, behavioral, and psychological problems associated with their role as members in the WPC Pilot Program in addressing the problem. The third, comparing 2020 interview finding to the same participant group from the 2016 findings. Key Terms: Attachment Theory, Homeless provider perceptions, People Experiencing Homelessness (PEH), Phenomenology, Whole Person Care (WPC) Pilot Program.