From Direct Service to Policy: Building a Career in Homeless Healthcare with Taryn Bilo, MPH

In this episode, Abby sits down with Taryn Bilo, MPH, Medical Respite Manager at the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council. Taryn shares her unconventional path from undergraduate volunteer work to becoming a leader in homeless healthcare and public health policy.

Starting with volunteer work at a housing resource agency in Olympia, Washington, Taryn discusses how early experiences shaped her decade-long career in homeless services. She opens up about the realities of working in direct service—from helping launch one of the first low-barrier shelters in her community to starting a medical respite program—and why she eventually pursued a master's in public health to shift toward upstream thinking and systems-level change.

Taryn explains what medical respite care is and why it's critical for people experiencing homelessness who are discharged from hospitals with nowhere to recover. She discusses the importance of integrating behavioral health and substance use services, developing gender-affirming care practices, and addressing social determinants of health in meaningful ways. She also tackles the policy landscape, including concerns about Medicaid cuts and exciting innovations like Washington State piloting medical respite as a reimbursable service.

Whether you're considering a career in public health, homeless services, or healthcare policy, this conversation offers honest insights into the challenges of working with vulnerable populations, strategies for preventing burnout, and what gives Taryn hope for the future despite uncertain times.