"When people talk about ending homelessness, the conversation almost always starts with housing. And for good reason-without a safe, stable home, it's nearly impossible for anyone to rebuild their life. But there's another piece of this crisis we don't talk about enough: health. You can't recover from homelessness if you can't access health care. You can't stay housed if an unexpected medical bill wipes out your savings. And right now, that fragile balance - between health and housing - is under serious threat."
"That's why this November's Measure A is so important. It's not just another line on the ballot. It's a decision about what kind of community we want to be - and whether we'll protect the lifeline that keeps tens of thousands of our neighbors healthy, stable and alive. Santa Clara Valley Healthcare - our county's public hospital system - is the beating heart of the local safety net."
"But here's the problem: federal cuts to Medicaid funding have created a billion-dollar hole in our county's health budget. That's not a typo. $1 billion - gone. Those are the dollars that keep emergency rooms open, trauma units staffed and mobile clinics on the streets. Without them, we risk devastating cuts to the very services that save lives and prevent homelessness every day."
Ending homelessness requires both housing and accessible health care; lacking either prevents recovery or maintaining housing. Unexpected medical bills can erase savings and cause housing loss. Federal Medicaid cuts created a billion-dollar shortfall in the county health budget, threatening emergency rooms, trauma units, mobile clinics, homeless health teams, and behavioral health programs. Santa Clara Valley Healthcare operates four hospitals, 15 clinics, and mobile outreach programs serving nearly half a million residents regardless of income. Measure A would provide local funding to preserve these services, protect the connection between health and housing, and prevent service reductions that could increase homelessness.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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