Faith Granberry, Cahokia, IL, works full time but doesn't make enough money to cover healthcare expenses. She relied on Medicaid in foster care. She now worries that Medicaid cuts would affect her ability to afford healthcare. "Medical debt is a big reason people become homeless in America," she said. It's a realistic fear for her as she has experienced homelessness before.
Physical recovery does not end when someone leaves the hospital — but for people without stable housing, it often has to.
Discharged with fresh wounds, healing bones, and post-operative instructions, many unhoused individuals find themselves on the streets, with no safe place to recover and no one to help. There's no quiet room to rest, no support in managing medications, or to check if a wound is healing.
Christy Anderson, 59, is a coal miner's daughter whose parents instilled in her the value of hard work. She worked hard for many years as a caretaker for the elderly. When her husband died, she could not afford healthcare for her children and relied on Medicaid for their regular checkups and medications. And when Christy began struggling with her mental health and was no longer able to work, Medicaid was there for her.
Before I really understood what a peer specialist was, my opinion was made up by someone else.
“Why would you pay a sponsor?” I heard a researcher scoff during a lab meeting. He was referring to sponsorship — the volunteer exchange of support rooted in recovery, found in the rooms of 12-step groups. He recoiled at the idea of compensating someone for empathy, accountability, and advice. And if that’s all peer specialists did, why pay them?
One year down and we’re all smiles!
Chestnut Family Dental in Bloomington, IL is celebrating its one-year anniversary.
Since opening its doors in May 2024, staff have seen 942 patients for 2,156 visits.