NATIONAL HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS COUNCIL
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Greetings!
Welcome! This message is the first in a series intended to increase understanding of and
foster greater investment in the important work and mission of the National
Health Care for the Homeless Council.
Each Letter from the Executive Director will bring readers up to date
on our organization, fill in details about current initiatives, and link you to specific, easy actions
to further our mission. If you are new to the National Council, these
links will allow you to learn more about our history,
our membership, our advocacy agenda, and how to support our work for health care, housing and human rights. |
ADVOCACY IN ACTION: WORKING FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM
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As you know, health
problems and homelessness are intimately linked. The National Council works to help end homelessness through national health care reform and is the voice for Health Care for the Homeless projects across the
country. While our preferred goal of an administratively simple single payer system is still far away, the legislation that recently passed the House includes important reforms
that will benefit the 70 percent of our clients who are without health insurance coverage. Specifically, the legislation:
- expands Community Health Centers--including Health Care for the Homeless projects--which will help assure accessible, effective care for isolated, medically-fragile persons who are struggling to survive without homes.
These provisions in the House health reform bill must also be adopted by the Senate, and with your help, they can be!
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YOUR PERSONAL ACTION PLAN
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1. BECOME AN ADVOCATE SUPPORTER. Your financial support is critical to our being
able to continue our vital work on the national level. 2. SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. Email your Senators
in support of Medicaid expansion and health system reform. You may craft your own message or use the simple language
below:
As proposals for national health
care reform are debated in the Senate, please assure that reform reaches people experiencing homelessness, whose extreme health care needs are of great concern to me. I
urge you to extend Medicaid to everyone who is poor, and to expand the Consolidated Health Center
program to provide accessible health care services for homeless and other impoverished people.
3. HELP BUILD OUR NETWORK OF CONCERNED CITIZENS SUCH AS YOURSELF. There is strength in numbers and we ask your help in expanding our base of support for health care reform. Please take a moment to send us the names and email addresses of three friends or colleagues who
will join us in becoming advocates for health care, housing and human rights. Or if you prefer, simply forward this Letter from the Executive Director directly to others who share our commitment to human rights. Use the Forward email link at the bottom of this message on the left. Whichever action you choose will be instrumental as we build a network of advocates to end homelessness.
There is the very
real possibility that if nothing passes before the end of the year, health
reform will be deferred until 2013 or later. Meanwhile, the uninsured population
will grow, more people will file for medical bankruptcy each year, and the relationship
between homelessness and health will intensify.
Like you, we are committed to real change in our country. Thank you for your support and for lending your voice to our ongoing campaign. Please act now.
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It's my intention that these letters not only keep you informed about important developments at the Council, but also give you a feel for the work we are doing. Thank you for being a part of our community.
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Peace,
John N. Lozier, MSSW | Executive Director
615/226-2292 | www.nhchc.org | jlozier@nhchc.org
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Health Care and Housing Are Human Rights
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