Who we are
Who started medical respite care for adults experiencing homelessness:
We lost one of our most visionary in 2024 — Dr. Janelle Goetchus.
Dr. Janelle Goetchus was a lion in the field of people experiencing homelessness.
She saw hope and healing in what darkness can often be.
She founded what we now know to be medical respite care.
As the founder of the nation’s oldest medical respite care organization, Christ House——she was the beacon and showed the rest of the world how it was done. Dr. Goetchus and our clients are what push us in the field — to offer compassion and warmth to adults who are our most vulnerable.
I am honored to chair the Steering committee for the Respite Care Providers Network and serve as the CEO of the Center for Respite Care in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Goetchus’s vision, commitment, leadership, and sheer caring make both organizations possible.
She exemplified a life of kindness — working through her own last days to care for the people we treat.
What does this look like in communities?
For the past 21 years — we (in Cincinnati) have worked to ensure that people experiencing homelessness who confront sickness with no place to recover — have a safe place to go. Organizations like ours — Cincinnati’s Center for Respite Care — rely upon local, state, county, and federal government, individuals, corporations, and foundations. We also can accept Medicaid.
Our services save the public, hospitals, and the community significant money. This is because a stay with us is not only more cost-effective than a long hospitalization but also provides a path to wellness, employment, and stable housing.
Adults come to us (once released from the hospital) and leave us with a life plan. Our focus is physical and mental health, along with equipping our clients with life skills, training, and plans for their futures.
We are reliant upon volunteers, generous supporters, and big-hearted agencies.
State of Homelessness in the USA:
The state of homelessness continues to increase in the USA.
“Across the U.S., more than 771,800 people lived without housing in 2024, according to a count taken annually on a single night in January. The number for January 2024 is (was) 18.1% higher than in 2023 when officials counted about 650,000 people living in homeless shelters or parks and on streets. In 2022, the population of people experiencing homelessness was about 580,000.
“The numbers are just mind-boggling to me,” Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, told USA TODAY. (Thornton, 12/27/24)”
What does this mean and what can you do?
As elected officials (all levels of government) and administrations change — so does funding availability — as well as what Medicaid covers and who qualifies. Our objective is to positively affect healing and self-sufficiency, ensuring that individuals are less dependent upon public money. We do rely upon philanthropy, volunteerism, and viable community leadership.
This is the retiree who comes to our facilities to teach our clients life skills. This is the psychologist who gives their time to offer words of encouragement. This is the artist who teaches painting that inspires. This is the corporate executive who — in their free time — delivers healthy and delicious meals. And there are the individuals who were once our clients and return to offer hope to others.
I believe that no matter who leads our nation — we are a country of hope and people who are willing to extend themselves to others. To any person seeking to support your community — I encourage you to reach out to our local respite care facilities.
