Interim Housing Outreach Program (IHOP)
The Interim Housing Outreach Program (IHOP) is a joint initiative among the Departments of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH), Mental Health (DMH), and Public Health (DPH) to care for people experiencing homelessness whose health compromises their ability to stay safely housed in interim housing.
IHOP’s mission is to keep people experiencing homelessness sheltered.
About the Interim Housing Outreach Program
IHOP provides on-site care for people experiencing homelessness in interim housing settings, with the goal of either supporting the client in their current place of residence or transitioning them to a higher level of care as appropriate. IHOP operates in all eight Service Planning Areas (SPAs) throughout LA County.
IHOP practices a model of complex care management facilitated through a therapeutic alliance between a single anchor care manager and the client. Through this alliance, the client has access to care from all three departments as needed. The anchor care manager will remain with the client for as long as needed to ensure the client is stably connected to services and remains safely sheltered.
Note: The anchor care manager is commonly a medical case worker. The broader IHOP team includes medical doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, and substance use counselors.
Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH)
Cares for individuals unable to perform self-care and basic activities of daily living (ADLs).
Department of Mental Health (DMH)
Focuses on individuals who need psychiatric care and have unaddressed behavioral health needs.
Department of Public Health (DPH)
Cares for individuals suffering from substance use disorders affecting their interim housing tenancy.
Primary Goals
- Provide services to clients with functional deficits due to unaddressed physical and behavioral health needs
- Offer interim housing providers with technical assistance to manage clients with functional deficits
- Identify ways to impact policy to better care for these populations in the future
IHOP also serves to link people experiencing homelessness to numerous other community resources. An anchor care manager can connect clients to in-home caregiving (IHCG), Countywide Benefits Entitlement Services Team (CBEST), Enhanced Care Management (ECM), and others.
Target Clients
IHOP actively seeks clients with specific health and behavioral health needs who are currently in interim housing settings. Each department within IHOP focuses on a distinct population.
HSH Clients
Individuals unable to perform self-care and basic activities of daily living (ADLs and iADLs). HSH is dedicated to those who need hands-on daily support to remain safely housed.
DMH Clients
Individuals with unaddressed behavioral health and/or substance use disorders. DMH focuses on those whose psychiatric care needs are not being met in their current setting.
DPH Clients
Individuals with substance use challenges that are affecting their ability to maintain interim housing tenancy. DPH seeks clients whose substance use is actively threatening housing stability.
What IHOP Offers
IHOP provides a comprehensive set of services and referrals to support clients in interim housing. The anchor care manager coordinates access to care across all three departments and connects clients to community resources as needed.
Health Services
- Access to high-quality, real-time physical health and behavioral health services in 1:1 and group formats
- Mental health and substance use disorder services
- Field-based assessment teams for screening and referrals to community supports, enhanced care management, and other services offered by health plans including Medi-Cal redetermination
Referrals and Placements
- Referral and placement of caregiver support for individuals needing ADL and iADL support
- Referral to Community Based Engagement and Service Teams (CBEST) for SSI/SSDI/CAPI
- Referral and placement into other housing if needed (recuperative care, ERC, stabilization)
- Referral to housing navigation through Integrated Care Management Services (ICMS)
Technical Assistance
Technical assistance to improve the ability of shelter staff to care for clients with functional deficits.
Community Resource Connections
Anchor care managers can connect clients to in-home caregiving (IHCG), Countywide Benefits Entitlement Services Team (CBEST), Enhanced Care Management (ECM), and other services.
Submit an IHOP Referral
Referrals to IHOP can be submitted online through the referral form below. Use this form to connect clients in interim housing who have unaddressed health, behavioral health, or substance use needs to IHOP services.
IHOP Referral Form
Submit referrals for clients in interim housing who need DHS, DMH, or DPH services through the IHOP program.
Who Should Be Referred
IHOP is appropriate for clients in interim housing who:
- Have unaddressed physical or behavioral health needs compromising their ability to stay housed
- Are unable to perform self-care or basic activities of daily living
- Have unaddressed substance use disorders affecting tenancy
- Need psychiatric care that is not currently being provided