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THRIVE FROM THE START

Every infant and toddler deserves a safe, stable, and nurturing start in life. That’s why Housing Is has joined forces with  Prevent Child Abuse America, SchoolHouse Connection, and ZERO TO THREE to launch Thrive From The Start—a cross-sector effort dedicated to addressing homelessness among infants, toddlers, and expectant parents. Visit thrivefromthestart.org to learn more and explore how you can be a part of the solution. 

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Housing Is Working Group 2024-2025 Calendar

Join the Housing Is Working Group to discuss special topics related to cross-sector initiatives and programmatic considerations particularly focused on the intersections of housing, health, and education.

This year’s public webinars cover topics such as child welfare and housing, leveraging Medicaid resources for housing services, out-of-school time, and digital connectivity in a post-ACP world. 

View Calendar
 
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Research
Community:
Oct 16, 2018
The evidence on how homelessness affects children suggests policymakers should be doing everything possible to prevent homelessness and, when families who do lose their housing, to help them exit homelessness and stabilize in housing quickly. Rapid re-housing (RRH) can help homeless families in crisis.

Authored by: Mary K. Cunningham for The Urban Institute
Topics: Child welfare, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Research, Stability
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 5, 2018
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Research
Community:
Nov 5, 2018
Using multiple panels from the US Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation, we find that participation in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or public health insurance reduces the number of hardships low-income families with children experience by 48 percent and reduces the share who experience food insufficiency by 72 percent.

Authored by: Signe-Mary McKernan and Caroline Ratcliffe for The Urban Institute
Topics: Child welfare, Cost effectiveness, Food insecurity, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Metrics, Research, Stability
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 5, 2018

New evidence shows the safety net reduces Americans' material hardship by 48 percent

Research
Nov 5, 2018
Signe-Mary McKernan and Caroline Ratcliffe for The Urban Institute
Using multiple panels from the US Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation, we find that participation in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or public health insurance reduces the number of hardships low-income families w
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Research
Community:
Aug 28, 2018
Current efforts to end homelessness are largely focused on the immediate housing needs of adults. Yet recent research further demonstrates the importance of addressing childhood, early care, and education in efforts to prevent and end homelessness. This blog post summarizes five new studies. Topics include homelessness in the womb and during infancy; the Adverse Childhood Experiences of homeless adults; the employment of families during and after stays in homeless shelters; and the impact of Rapid Rehousing on the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Authored by: SchoolHouse Connection
Topics: Child welfare, Dual-generation, Early childhood, Education, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Pre-natal, Research
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 31, 2018

New Research Reinforces Connections Among Homelessness, Childhood, and Education

Research
Aug 28, 2018
SchoolHouse Connection
Current efforts to end homelessness are largely focused on the immediate housing needs of adults. Yet recent research further demonstrates the importance of addressing childhood, early care, and education in efforts to prevent and end homelessness. This blog post summarizes five new studies.
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Research
Community:
Oct 29, 2018
We examine the implementation of a community health worker (CHW) program in subsidized housing, describe needs identified and priorities set by residents, and summarize participant-reported outcomes.

Authored by: New York University School of Medicine, New York University, Henry Street Settlement, New York University School of Medicine
Topics: East Coast, Health, Housing, Low-income, Partnerships, Place-based, Research
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 29, 2018

A Pilot Community Health Worker Program in Subsidized Housing: The Health + Housing Project

Research
Oct 29, 2018
New York University School of Medicine, New York University, Henry Street Settlement, New York University School of Medicine
We examine the implementation of a community health worker (CHW) program in subsidized housing, describe needs identified and priorities set by residents, and summarize participant-reported outcomes.
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Research
Community:
Oct 25, 2018
In contrast to the portrayal of homelessness as affecting people with behavioral health problems or low employment capacity, cycles of homelessness could reflect job shifts that bring a household in or out of poverty. To assess the connections between employment and homelessness, researchers focused on three topics: (1) employment and earnings before, during, and after adults used a homeless shelter; (2) changes in employment and earnings in connection to shelter entry and exit; and (3) employment and earnings differences between adults who are homeless as part of a family versus as individuals.

Authored by: Stephen Metraux, Jamison Fargo, Nicholas Eng, and Dennis Culhane for Cityscape
Topics: Asset building, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Research, Stability, Workforce development
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 25, 2018

Employment and Earnings Trajectories During Two Decades Among Adults in New York City Homeless Shelters

Research
Oct 25, 2018
Stephen Metraux, Jamison Fargo, Nicholas Eng, and Dennis Culhane for Cityscape
In contrast to the portrayal of homelessness as affecting people with behavioral health problems or low employment capacity, cycles of homelessness could reflect job shifts that bring a household in or out of poverty.
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Research
Community:
Oct 3, 2018
Two new research briefs use recent data from the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES 2014) to explore characteristics of children enrolled in Head Start and the leaders and teachers who guide the programs.

Authored by: Mathematica
Topics: Child welfare, Early childhood, Low-income, Research, School-readiness
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 22, 2018

FACES 2014 Data Shed Light on Developmental Progress of Head Start Children and Head Start Leadership Characteristics

Research
Oct 3, 2018
Mathematica
Two new research briefs use recent data from the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES 2014) to explore characteristics of children enrolled in Head Start and the leaders and teachers who guide the programs.
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Podcast
Community:
Sep 12, 2018
Opportunity Zones have the potential to make a huge economic impact on disinvested communities across the country. Host Justin Milner speaks with researchers Brett Theodos and Brady Meixell on how this brand-new economic development initiative works, and how we’ll know if it’s truly successful.

Authored by: Urban Institute's Critical Value Podcast
Topics: Community development, Low-income, Mobility, Youth
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 10, 2018
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Research
Community:
May 1, 2018
The third in a series of Research-to-Impact briefs by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago on understanding and addressing youth homelessness.

Authored by: Chapin Hall and Voices of Youth Count
Topics: Early childhood, Family engagement, Home visiting, Low-income, Partnerships, Pre-natal, Research, Youth
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 10, 2018
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Research
Community:
Oct 1, 2018
Although the rental assistance programs varied, key themes emerged, including (1) most programs, recognizing the impact of housing stability on health outcomes, targeted populations served by state or local health and human services programs; (2) most programs served a growing number of households over time; (3) funding generally increased over time and most of it came from general revenue; and (4) programs involved collaboration between the housing and health and human services agencies to ensure clients’ needs were comprehensively met.

Authored by: Anna Bailey, Peggy Bailey, and Douglas Rice for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Topics: Funding, Health, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Partnerships, Place-based, Research, Stability
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 9, 2018

Innovative Approaches to Providing Rental Assistance: States and Localities Seek to Support Health and Human Services Goals

Research
Oct 1, 2018
Anna Bailey, Peggy Bailey, and Douglas Rice for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Although the rental assistance programs varied, key themes emerged, including (1) most programs, recognizing the impact of housing stability on health outcomes, targeted populations served by state or local health and human services programs; (2) most programs served a growing number of households o
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Research
Community:
Oct 3, 2018
Using administrative data from Massachusetts, this study analyzes the health care use and Medicaid expenditures of families who experienced one or more homeless episodes between 2008 and 2015 to investigate how health care use is related to emergency housing experiences.

Authored by: Urban Institute
Topics: Asthma, Child welfare, Depression, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Metrics, Pre-natal, Research
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 4, 2018

Early Detection and Intervention Could Improve Health Outcomes for Homeless Families

Research
Oct 3, 2018
Urban Institute
Using administrative data from Massachusetts, this study analyzes the health care use and Medicaid expenditures of families who experienced one or more homeless episodes between 2008 and 2015 to investigate how health care use is related to emergency housing experiences.
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Research
Community:
Sep 19, 2018
About 20 percent of adults in sheltered homeless families have a disability, compared with 9 percent of all US adults, yet few studies have addressed the intersection of disability and housing instability. A recent study explored the relationship between disabilities and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) income that homeless families reported when they entered emergency shelters, as well as later outcomes, such as housing stability, self-sufficiency, and food insecurity. It also examined how housing interventions affect SSI/SSDI income receipt.

Authored by: Urban Institute
Topics: Disabilities, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Research, Stability
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Sep 20, 2018
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Research
Community:
Sep 19, 2018
Many social issues stem from a history of unstable, unaffordable, and poor-quality housing. Research shows that housing is the first rung on the ladder to economic opportunity for individuals and that a person’s access to opportunity is intrinsically linked with that of the community at large. As the gap between rents and incomes widens, it is critical that professionals in fields outside housing—including health, education, and economic development, among others—understand its central importance.

Authored by: Veronica Gaitan for Urban Institute
Topics: Community development, Education, Health, Housing, Low-income, Metrics, Partnerships, Research
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Sep 20, 2018

How Housing Can Determine Educational, Health, and Economic Outcomes

Research
Sep 19, 2018
Veronica Gaitan for Urban Institute
Many social issues stem from a history of unstable, unaffordable, and poor-quality housing. Research shows that housing is the first rung on the ladder to economic opportunity for individuals and that a person’s access to opportunity is intrinsically linked with that of the community at large.
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Podcast
Community:
Aug 15, 2018
Evidence shows that investing in children today can decrease poverty for the next generation of adults. Host Justin Milner speaks with researchers Heather Hahn and Cary Lou about the federal government’s current spending on kids, future projections for this spending, and what that means for America’s children.

Authored by: Urban Institute
Topics: Child welfare, Early childhood, Education, Funding, Legislation & Policy, Research, Youth
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Sep 18, 2018
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Podcast
Community:
Sep 17, 2018
About MDRC’s “Evidence First” Podcast Series: Policymakers talk about solutions, but which ones really work? Join Katie Beal, MDRC’s External Affairs Associate, as she talks with experts about the best evidence available on education and social programs that serve low-income people.

Authored by: Katie Beal with MDRC
Topics: Education, Funding, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Post-secondary, Workforce development, Youth
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Sep 17, 2018
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Research
Community:
Aug 9, 2018
Annuities, long-term care insurance (LTCI), and reverse mortgages appear to offer important consumption smoothing benefits to the elderly, yet private markets for these products are small. A prominent idea is to combine LTCI and annuities to alleviate both supply (selection) and demand (liquidity) problems in these markets. This paper shows that if consumers typically liquidate home equity only in the event of illness, then LTCI and annuities become substitutes and less attractive. Simulations confirm that without home equity loans, both LTCI and constant real annuities may be welfare destructive, particularly in combination.

Authored by:
Topics: Asset building, Health, Housing, Medicaid / Medicare, Seniors
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 9, 2018
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Research
Community:
Aug 9, 2018
For almost two decades now, cities around the country have been demolishing traditional public housing and relocating residents to subsidized private market rental housing. In this paper, we examine sense of place, consisting of both community and place attachment, among a sample of Atlanta public housing residents prior to relocation.

Authored by:
Topics: Asset building, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Mental health, Mobility, Research, South, Stability
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 9, 2018
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Research
Community:
Aug 1, 2018
We examined the impact of long-term (6 months or more) vacant housing and various durations of vacancy on a variety of health outcomes at the neighborhood level across three types of U.S. metropolitan areas (metros): (1) those that have experienced consistently strong growth, (2) those that have undergone weak growth, and (3) those hit hardest by the foreclosure crisis

Authored by:
Topics: Asset building, Asthma, Community development, Health, Housing, Low-income, Mental health, Metrics, Research, Safety, Transportation
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 1, 2018
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Research
Community:
Aug 1, 2018
Homelessness among children is correlated with developmental delays, fair or poor health, and high healthcare utilization. Associations of homelessness specifically among infants younger than 12 months, however, are unknown. This study evaluates homelessness during infancy as a risk for adverse infant and maternal health and hardship.

Authored by:
Topics: Child welfare, Depression, Disabilities, Dual-generation, Early childhood, Education, Family engagement, Food insecurity, Grade-level proficiency, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Metrics, Partnerships, Pre-natal, Research, School-readiness, Youth
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 1, 2018
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Research
Community:
Aug 1, 2018
This study draws on qualitative interview data to examine transitions into rent-assisted housing as they relate to diabetes self-management behaviors.

Authored by:
Topics: East Coast, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Mental health, Metrics, Nutrition, Research, Stability
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 1, 2018
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Research
Community:
Aug 1, 2018
Although affordable housing holds great potential for improving the health of its residents, the optimal way to incorporate health into the affordable housing planning and design process remains unknown. Working with five community development corporations (CDCs), we performed a pilot study of their approach to developing Health Action Plans, a structured process that formalizes collaboration between CDCs and public health professionals.

Authored by:
Topics: Depression, Green, Health, Housing, Low-income, Partnerships, Research
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 1, 2018
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Research
Community:
Aug 1, 2018
We sought to learn more about how state- and locally funded rental assistance programs were created, how they are structured, whom they serve, and how they are funded.

Authored by:
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Data sharing, Disabilities, Family engagement, Funding, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Partnerships, Research, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 1, 2018
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Research
Community:
Aug 1, 2018
The Support and Services at Home (SASH) program in Vermont aims to coordinate care and assist participants in accessing the health care and support services they need to maintain their health and age comfortably and safely in their homes. Most program participants are residents of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-assisted properties or Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties. Our objective is to estimate the impact of the first 5 1/2 years of the SASH program on the Medicare expenditures of these participants.

Authored by:
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Dual-eligibles, East Coast, Health, Home visiting, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Metrics, Seniors
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 1, 2018

The Impact of the Vermont Support and Services at Home Program on Healthcare Expenditures

Research
Aug 1, 2018
The Support and Services at Home (SASH) program in Vermont aims to coordinate care and assist participants in accessing the health care and support services they need to maintain their health and age comfortably and safely in their homes. Most program participants are residents of U.S.
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Research
Community:
Jul 24, 2018
Although public-private partnerships (PPPs) have attracted practitioner and academic interest over the last two decades, there has been no attempt to integrate the general and health management literature to provide a holistic view of PPPs in healthcare delivery. This study analyzes over 1,400 publications from a wide range of disciplines over a 20-year time period. It synthesizes formerly dispersed research perspectives into a comprehensive multi-dimensional framework of public-private partnerships, and in so doing, provides new directions for further research and practice.

Authored by:
Topics: Community development, Funding, Metrics, Partnerships, Research
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 24, 2018
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Research
Community:
Jul 23, 2018
Supportive housing programs are proposed as a way of increasing housing access and stability for the chronically homeless, improving access to needed services, and decreasing vulnerability to HIV and other diseases. Little is known about residents’ understandings of and experiences with different models of supportive housing and how they fit within residents’ broader strategies to maintain housing. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 23 residents and 10 service providers from nine different supportive housing programs in Hartford, Connecticut. Data analysis explored residents’ perceptions of and experiences with supportive housing programs in the context of strategies to access resources and receive emotional, financial, and other forms of support.

Authored by:
Topics: East Coast, Homelessness, Housing, Mental health, Place-based, Research, Substance abuse, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 23, 2018
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Research
Community:
Jul 23, 2018
The first two brief sections set the policy context for the ongoing housing policy debate on the social benefits of housing. Next is a five-section critical review of the last roughly quarter century of housing policy research. This is followed by a discussion of outstanding measurement issues before the concluding section.

Authored by:
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Health, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Research, Safety
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 23, 2018