Person
Alma Yates, MSW
Alma Yates, MSW is BHHI’s Education Program Manager. In this role, Alma coordinates predoctoral and postdoctoral activities. Prior to joining BHHI, she worked at the University of California San Francisco, including the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, AIDS Research Institute and Stanford University. Alma received her master’s degree from the Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City, with a focus on Social Enterprise Administration, International Social Welfare, and Services for Immigrants and Refugees. She is also a graduate of Santa Clara University, where she earned her BS in Anthropology. Alma is a former refugee from Bosnia
Opinion
America’s Homeless Deserve Better Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
The Messenger •
October 3, 2023
Blog
America’s Homeless Deserve Better Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Opinion
Lourdes Johanna Avelar Portillo •
October 3, 2023
News
Amount of Homeless People with Mental Illness Increased Slightly in Recent Years, but Experts Say They're More Visible: Analysis
ABC News •
October 17, 2023
Our Research
Analysis of Emergency Department Encounters Among High Users of Health Care and Social Service Systems Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
JAMA Network Open •
October 28, 2022
Person
Angelica DeGaetano, LLM
Angelica is a researcher with an interdisciplinary background in anthropology, sociology, international relations, and law. After working in direct service for many years, she worked in multiple research settings before joining CVP/BHHI—including three years conducting public opinion research to advance policy on a range of issues. She looks forward to continue informing policy and practice recommendations as a researcher with CVP/BHHI. Angelica holds an LL.M from the University of Essex and an M.Phil from the University of Oxford.
Person
News
Anti-homeless Rhetoric Alarms Advocates Amid Killings
San Francisco Examiner •
May 10, 2023
News
Anti-Racism in Medicine – Housing is Health: Racism and Homelessness
Clincial Problem Solvers •
April 5, 2022
Toolkit
News
As COVID Cases Surge Among SF’s Homeless, Shelter Options Narrow
San Francisco Public Press •
August 18, 2021
Person
Ashley Smith, BA
Ashley Smith is a Data Analyst at BHHI. Her interest in public health and research is rooted in non-profit work as a young adult in the diverse city of San Francisco. Ashley accepted a position at UCSF DGIM as a research coordinator in 2019, before joining BHHI in July 2020. She has spent her time at UCSF supporting multiple research projects focused on examining health disparities – working on projects spanning from equitable cancer care for underserved populations, housing insecurity, and telehealth for aging populations. She has experience in program evaluation, community engagement, and qualitative data analysis. She earned her
Our Research
Association of Homelessness with Before Medically Advised Discharge After Surgery
Science Direct •
May 6, 2024
Our Research
Association of Housing Status With Types of Operations and Postoperative Health Care Utilization
Annals of Surgery •
December 1, 2023
Our Research
Association of Shelter-in-Place Hotels With Health Services Use Among People Experiencing Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
JAMA Network Open •
July 27, 2022
Our Research
Associations of U.S. State-Level COVID-19 Policies Intensity With Cannabis Sharing Behaviors in 2020
April 16, 2024
Person
Basic Page
Background
California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness
Basic Page
Our Research
Barriers and Facilitators to Resolving Older Adult Homelessness Through Stays With Family: Qualitative Findings From the HOPE HOME Study
Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness •
February 8, 2022
Our Research
Barriers and Solutions To Advance Care Planning Among Homeless-Experienced Older Adults
Journal of Palliative Medicine •
September 22, 2020
Our Research
Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening and Surveillance in Homeless Patients: A Case Report and Policy Recommendations
Annals of Surgery Open •
September 1, 2022
News
Bay Area Homelessness Could Be Solved With $11.8 Billion, Says New Report
San Francisco Chronicle •
June 2, 2021
Research Area
Behavioral Health
The stress of experiencing homelessness can amplify previous mental illness and trigger anxiety, depression, fear, substance use, and sleeplessness.
Basic Page
Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative
The Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) provides accurate, timely policy-oriented research about homelessness for local, state, and national policymakers and practitioners. Funded by a generous gift from Marc and Lynne Benioff and based at the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, BHHI aims to be a trusted source for evidence-based practice, policy, and scalable solutions—turning evidence into action to prevent and end homelessness.