"Where do people experiencing homelessness go to die?"

A Gap No One Was Filling

When The INN Between opened its doors 10 years ago, we faced a problem that existing systems couldn’t solve: how do you provide true dignity and care for people experiencing homelessness at the end of life or during serious medical crises?

Traditional healthcare and housing models were designed with certain assumptions—that people had insurance, families, or stable homes to recover in. These models left our most vulnerable neighbors falling through the cracks. Shelters weren’t equipped to manage complex medical needs. Hospitals couldn’t discharge patients without a safe place to heal. Hospice agencies lacked a way to serve those without housing.

Designing from Compassion

Social model hospices and medical respite facilities are doing a great job filling the gaps. How could we take our program a step further?

So, we built something new. We designed from compassion. Over the last few years, every bed, every program, and every policy at The INN Between grew from listening to our residents and asking, What would it feel like to be safe, cared for, and treated with dignity here? That guiding principle helped us create a model that doesn’t just “fit” people into a system—it builds a system that meets people where they are. Today, we are more than a program-we are a community within these walls.

A Flexible Model for Real Lives

Our flexible model provides medication management and nursing support for daily needs, while welcoming residents who need stability to qualify for lifesaving treatments, undergo surgeries-including transplants-or manage acute medical conditions. Alongside this, residents access on-site primary care, professional mental health supports, life skills training, group activities and community outings that foster connection and belonging.

But compassion doesn’t stop with our residents. Several years ago, we turned our focus inward to ensure our greatest assets—our employees—were supported as well. We committed to paying a livable wage, providing full benefits, and offering mindfulness, stress reduction, and resilience training to prevent compassion fatigue. Caring for our staff ensures that they, in turn, can care for our residents with the empathy and dedication our mission requires.”

Still Our Foundation

A decade later, compassion continues to guide everything we do. What began as a response to a gap in the system has grown into a living community where dignity, safety, and healing are always at the center.

The Power of “Together”

The INN Between’s journey has always been about partnership. We know no single organization can solve the challenge of medical respite and end-of-life care for people without housing.

Hospitals trusted us with their patients. Hospice agencies came alongside providing medical expertise. Community shelters and outreach workers referred those who needed a safe place to heal. Donors, volunteers, and neighbors gave their time, resources, and voices to help us thrive.

Choosing Collaboration Over Competition

Instead of competing for resources, we embraced collaboration. We invited everyone to the table—healthcare providers, nonprofits, faith groups, and government partners—and asked: How can we do this together?

That spirit of collaboration extended to the business community as well. Companies willing to share their expertise pro bono, such as Done Marketing, helped us create professional tools-like a marketing video that helped us secure critical expansion funding during the 2024/2025 Utah Legislative Session.

A Network that Multiplies Impact

The result is a support network that grows stronger each year. Our story shows that when organizations set aside competition and lead with compassion, the impact multiplies. Thousands of lives have been touched—not because one group did everything, but because we chose to do it together.

Why Housing is Healthcare

When someone is discharged from the hospital but has no home to return to, recovery becomes nearly impossible. Ten years ago, this reality was a devastating and all too common reality in Salt Lake City. The INN Between stepped in to answer that need: a safe place to heal.

The Evidence Is Clear

Now, a decade later, we know beyond a doubt that housing is healthcare —and a home is healing. Medical respite is more than just a bed; it’s a lifeline. Our residents experience fewer hospital readmissions, more consistent access to medications, and the peace of mind that comes with stability. For those in hospice, having a home means having dignity at life’s end.

And the numbers are powerful: every dollar invested in medical respite saves nearly two. A resident staying at The INN Between creates an average savings of $47,110 per year.

Healing in Community

What we’ve learned is that true healing doesn’t happen in isolation. It requires comfort, compassion, and community; a safe room, a warm meal, and a caring staff member sitting at the bedside. These small acts create the conditions where health and dignity can flourish.

A Model for the Nation  

Medical respite is now recognized nationwide as a best practice —and The INN Between has helped lead the way. Our collaborative study with local hospitals proved that respite reduces costly acute care while improving health outcomes. With support from the Community Foundation of Utah’s Morgan Stanley Fellowship, Amanda Weller, MSW, helped us document and share these results.

We’ve also supported others on similar journeys, including Joshua’s House in Sacramento, CA—a 15-bed hospice for people experiencing homelessness that, after a decade of perseverance, opened its doors in 2025.

Join Us in the Work

If you want to support this movement, start by reading the National Healthcare for Homeless Council’s guiding document on hospice in a medical respite setting, co-authored by our Executive Director Jillian Olmsted. Then reach out—we’d be honored to host you for a site visit, share resources, and pass along what we’ve learned. Because everyone deserves not just healthcare, but dignity, safety, and community, especially at life’s most vulnerable moments.