A Hawaii program is treating housing as healthcare, and the early results are good news for homeless and at-risk residents.

• Aloha Care and Rainbow Health teamed up to house people with mental illness, and in one year they placed more than 130 people with none returning to the streets.
• Each person gets a case manager who finds their specific needs instead of a one-size-fits-all fix.
• Aloha Care, Hawaii's only Medicaid-only health plan, flags vulnerable members and refers them to Rainbow Health, which walks them through the process.
• Seniors over 50 are now the fastest-growing homeless group in Hawaii, about 19% of all cases, often pushed out by one lost paycheck, a death, or a surprise medical bill on a fixed income.
• Rainbow Health uses certified peer specialists — people who have been through homelessness themselves — to guide new clients.

Outlook: The groups are urging stressed residents to reach out early for housing and benefits help, even when asking for help feels shameful.