Nurse Tricia connects families to essential care

We know that health and housing are inextricably linked. The experience of homelessness limits access to doctors, dentists, and mental health care, causes food insecurity and stress on the body, and can lead to or worsen behavioral health and chronic medical issues. Medical expenses, lack of access to care, and chronic conditions can lead to the loss of a home or present a barrier to families seeking permanent housing. 

From basic wellness and developmental health to coordinating the complex care of a medically fragile child, nurse Tricia Nora and the Health Care Team at Mary’s Place connect families to the health services they need and provide support while they’re in shelter.   

“Accessing health care is difficult for everyone,” says Nurse Tricia, “now imagine you’re unhoused with young kids and no transportation, you likely don’t have insurance, there may be language barriers, and you’re trying to navigate an already complicated system.”  

Nurse Tricia and the team at Mary’s Place help families get insurance and identify health care options, while teaching families how to navigate the system and providing them with the tools they’ll need to continue care after they leave shelter. The team partners with community health providers and local hospitals to connect families to primary care providers and specialized care for families with complex medical needs or a pregnancy.  

 “One or two life events can change a family’s situation. A health event can cause a family to fall behind on rent or lose their jobs, or they might need to abruptly relocate to access care for complex conditions like childhood cancer,” shares Tricia. “The face of homelessness can be anyone and we can all participate in being a part of the solution.” 

Popsicle Place   

Popsicle Place is a unique program at Mary’s Place that provides families the space and resources they need in shelter to care for children with complex medical conditions, like cancer. Families in the Popsicle Place program have rooms in a private area of the shelter and bathrooms equipped with the necessary protections and supports for children with compromised immune systems, feeding tubes, or refrigerated medications. 

In 2023, the Popsicle Place program served 212 families! Multiple teams at Mary’s Place work together with local medical providers to ensure unhoused families being discharged from hospitals can transition to Popsicle Place and that their child’s care plan continues. Sometimes families need extra support during their stay, and the medical team is there to help - from assisting with feedings for premature babies, to finding a childcare program that best fits a child’s unique needs so mom can get back to work. Families work closely with the Mary’s Place medical team to coordinate their child’s care and make plans for how they will navigate their medical journey once they’re housed.  

“My favorite thing about working at Mary’s Place is the collaboration between teams and the compassionate staff who work here,” says Tricia. “The work can be very hard, but serving these families who are incredibly brave, resilient, and strong is really a pleasure. When a family gets keys to an apartment or house there is a lot of joy that’s shared among all of us who’ve worked with them on their journey into safe, stable housing!”