Housing First: From the Street to Stability Cooper University Health Care and the Camden Coalition to Sponsor Seminar Featuring NJ Commissioner of Health as Keynote Speaker

(CAMDEN, NJ) - Cooper University Health Care's Center for Healing in conjunction with the Camden Coalition will sponsor a free seminar, Housing First: From the Street to Stability, on Friday, September 13, featuring leading experts sharing best practices in addressing homelessness.

Kaitlan Baston, MD, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, will be the keynote speaker. Other speakers will include Andrew Spiers, LSW, senior program manager with the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

"Homelessness and poor health often become a vicious cycle," said Matthew S. Salzman, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Cooper University Health Care and medical director of research at the Center for Healing. "Lack of housing can negatively affect health and access to health care. Those experiencing homelessness often cannot access nutritious food or hygiene facilities, or stay on track with needed medications, appointments, and procedures - making them even less able to access employment and housing. The Housing First model we're highlighting at this symposium is an evidence-based solution designed to break this cycle."

The Camden Coalition currently runs one of South Jersey's Housing First programs, and the event will feature a program participant in conversation with Camden Coalition staff. "Our experience shows that Housing First works," said Laura Sorensen, MSW, associate director of harm reduction programs at the Camden Coalition. "We hope this event will build a community of advocates for the Housing First model in South Jersey and ultimately expand access to low-barrier, permanent housing for people with the most complex health and social needs."

The program is open to the medical community, social workers, community agencies, faith congregations, law enforcement, and anyone concerned with issues related to homelessness. It will be held at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University from noon to 4:30 p.m. on September 13 and will include a light lunch. There is no cost to attend, however, registration is strongly encouraged. Register at events.cooperhealth.org.