JFS Care: Providing Innovative Services to Help Address LA’s Homeless Crisis

JFS Care, Jewish Family Service LA’s home care division, has launched a new program that provides home care to previously homeless older adults residing in permanent supportive housing.

The two-year program is a partnership with the LA County Department of Health Services’ Housing for Health Division and is funded by a grant from Cedars-Sinai’s Community Benefit Program.  The program is expecting to serve 70 clients per month at its peak.  In its first year, the program will be serving individuals in Central Los Angeles and will expand to South Los Angeles in year two.

10% of homeless individuals in LA County are 62 or older.  As older individuals are placed in housing, Department of Health Services nurses assess them for care needs. Those in need of home care will be referred to JFS Care, which will provide a unique Care Managed home care model utilizing experienced professional care managers to assess and match caregivers and provide support to both the caregiver and client to ensure that care stays in place. 

“At JFS Care, we believe that we can be part of the solution when it comes to helping address the homeless crisis facing Los Angeles, while tapping into our experience and expertise,” said JFS Care CEO Steven Barlam. “We know there are at-risk adults who are recently housed who need caregiving support and the traditional models don’t work well for them. Our model aims to help keep the client housed securely and have a better quality of life.”

The two-year demonstration project includes a comprehensive evaluation to assess the impact of home care services on housing and health stability for the individuals served.

The program launched in August and currently has over a dozen clients enrolled, with referrals continuing to come.

“We want to make sure there will be someone involved reminding clients to take their medications or stay on track with their nutritional needs if they’re a diabetic,” said Mr. Barlam.  “The bottom line is, we want to make sure clients regain health stability and strengthen their ability to stay in their supportive housing.”

To learn more about JFS Care and its services, visit: www.jfscare.org