Women's Health
Homeless Women Access Health Services
Through Comprehensive Case Management
 onoma County is traditionally
regarded as an economic stronghold of
the tourism and wine industries, but its
affluent image belies the hardships
confronted by its most impoverished residents.
With affordable housing at a premium, the region
faces a growing problem with homelessness and its
associated negative health implications.
 Among the population of homeless women in
the region, many suffer from chronic pain, heart
disease, respiratory ailments, obesity, substance
abuse and a variety of mental health issues. Other
health problems include chronic stress associated
with domestic violence, sexual assault or prolonged
homelessness.
 To address these problems, Community Action
Partnership of Sonoma County (CAP Sonoma)
offers a variety of community-based prevention
efforts, early intervention and intensive treatment
programs. In June 2002, TCWF awarded the
organization a three-year, $90,000 grant for a health
screening and case management program for
homeless women.
“It is our belief that everyone, regardless of
income level, deserves access to quality health care,
safe and affordable housing and the resources
necessary to achieve economic and social stability,”
said Karen Oswald, CAP Sonoma grants officer.
“Therefore, we advocate for an enhanced quality of
life for all Sonoma County residents while focusing
our services in those areas with the highest concentrations
of minority and poverty-level households.”
These homeless, single women, many of whom
are over the age of 50, are improving their health
with CAP Sonoma’s “Wellness for Women”
program, which includes case management,
disease prevention and health/wellness education,
therapeutic services, and client information management
and analysis. In the past two years, the agency
has assessed and prepared health care plans for more
than 300 homeless women, addressing issues
ranging from physical and mental health needs to
housing plans, chemical dependency, job training
and employment, legal situations and human services
advocacy.
As part of the “Wellness for Women” program,
uninsured clients are introduced to local providers
and coached in the application processes for various
county health services. Those who actively choose to
participate in the program receive comprehensive
case management;
continued health
care planning; health
education; and advocacy
after placement
in emergency, transitional
or permanent
housing.
CAP Sonoma
broke ground on a
new shelter this fall,
expanding its
emergency shelter for
homeless women to
include a new 24-bed
facility. This will
enable the organization to offer longer stays,
increasing the likelihood that clients can move from
the cycle of homelessness into transitional housing.
Others have moved from transitional housing into
permanent housing with full-time jobs.
“Transient populations often have a difficult
time navigating their way through the public health
system to access much-needed health services,” said
Saba Brelvi, TCWF program director. “Providing
single women with comprehensive case management
makes a world of difference in improving the health
and wellness of this vulnerable population."
For more information, please visit
www.scpeo.org
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