How Does a Welcome Home Basket Keep People Healthy?

Massachusetts UnitedHealthcare employees helped pack 35 “welcome home” baskets for individuals who recently received housing at Woods-Mullen Shelter in Boston, Mass. The event was held in connection with a new initiative announced by United Health Foundation and Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA) to combat homelessness. The baskets included necessities such as pots and pans, linens and other home furnishings.

“These ‘welcome home’ baskets will be a nice surprise for people who now have access to permanent housing,” said Bernadette Di Re, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Massachusetts, on behalf of United Health Foundation. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with MHSA and Beacon Public Health Commission to help address the critical issue of homelessness.”

United Health Foundation, MHSA, Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) and Beacon Health Options/Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership are partnering in the Hospital to Housing initiative that will deploy five community health workers (CHWs) to work with homeless-service providers across the state, including two who will staff Boston-area shelters. The CHWs will assist shelter guests with access to permanent housing, and will support homeless and formerly homeless individuals in connecting to behavioral health and primary care in an effort to reduce hospitalizations and improve health outcomes.

Learn more about our partnership with the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance.