Washtenaw FUSE (Washtenaw Frequent Users System Engagement) is one of four pilot programs selected by the Corporation for Supportive Housing to lead in a nationwide effort integrating housing, care management and health services to improve health outcomes for high risk adults caught in a revolving door of crisis services. The goal of this initiative is to address one of the most pressing policy problems currently facing states and the nation as a whole: rising public health care costs associated with fragmented and uncoordinated care.
John was referred to the FUSE program from a local homeless shelter. John grew up in foster care after being taken from his home due to a physically abusive mother; then spent much of his adult life with no home at all. He was incarcerated for fifteen years and spent a considerable amount of that time in isolation due to severe behavioral issues. Upon his release, John had no resources and nowhere to go. A community homeless outreach program began working with him to find housing in the area, however prison had taken its toll on his mental health. John developed trauma-induced psychoses and defense mechanisms during incarceration that would not allow for him to stay at any one place for an extended period of time.