Welcome to Housing Is, a hub for generating effective programs and sharing innovative ideas.

Sign Up or Sign In
 

Housing Is Working Group 2023-2024 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 the mobility asthma project, trauma-informed approaches to housing, resident-focused racial equity work, out-of-school time, and how FCC grantees are supprting voucher holders.

View Calendar
 

Elements of a Successful Partnership

With generous support from the MacArthur Foundation, CLPHA developed an in-depth report on regional housing-education collaborations taking place at housing authorities across the Pacific-Northwest.

Read the Multimedia Report
 
0
0
0
0
News Article
Community:
Jan 8, 2019
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday announced $3 million in grants to 13 community organizations that address things like housing, hunger and other societal factors that affect someone’s health.

Authored by: Shira Schoenberg for Mass Live
Topics: East Coast, Food insecurity, Health, Housing, Low-income, Nutrition, Partnerships, Preventative care
Shared by Housing Is on Jan 16, 2019

Massachusetts AG Maura Healey gives $3 million to address social factors that affect health

News Article
Jan 8, 2019
Shira Schoenberg for Mass Live
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday announced $3 million in grants to 13 community organizations that address things like housing, hunger and other societal factors that affect someone’s health.
0
0
0
0
News Article
Community:
Jan 7, 2019
Kansas officials see a solution to chronic homelessness and the burden placed on state institutions, jails and law enforcement in the work of a psychiatrist who believes mentally ill people can help themselves without any strings attached. The idea is to provide those who need treatment with unconditional housing and the support services they need, even if they are substance abusers who are likely to violate traditional program requirements for curfew and sobriety.

Authored by: Sherman Smith for The Topeka Capital-Journal
Topics: Criminal justice, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Mental health, Preventative care, Supportive housing
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Jan 10, 2019
0
0
0
0
News Article
Community:
Dec 24, 2018
When homeless people get released, their issues combined with living on the street will usually land them back in emergency rooms, costing hospitals like Harborview Medical Center — which operates on a thin margin — time and money. One solution is a type of respite program that provides short-term care to homeless patients who are too sick to be on the streets or in a shelter, but not sick enough to continue to take up a hospital bed.

Authored by: Scott Greenstone for The Seattle Times
Topics: Health, Homelessness, Housing, Pacific Northwest, Partnerships, Place-based, Preventative care, Stability
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Jan 7, 2019
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Jan 1, 2019
Environmental health services, from asthma home visiting programs to lead testing, can help protect children from the dangerous environmental exposures they encounter every day. But the problem for parents and caregivers is accessing such services, a new analysis from APHA’s Center for Public Health Policy shows.

Authored by: Julia Haskins for The Nation's Health
Topics: Asthma, Child welfare, Health, Healthy homes, Housing, Lead, Low-income, Place-based, Preventative care, Research, Safety
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Jan 7, 2019
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
May 1, 2018
Housing and health systems need to work together. Public housing authorities (PHAs) are significant providers of housing to those in need, offering the health sector scale and expertise. Little was known about how PHAs worked with the health sector writ large. With a national survey, we found that PHAs across the country are engaged in a wide range of partnerships with different health organizations that address various target populations and health priorities. Barriers to housing-health collaboration, such as funding and staffing capacity, can be overcome with cross-system partnerships that seek to address these needs.

Authored by: CLPHA and PAHRC
Topics: Child welfare, Funding, Health, Housing, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships, Preventative care, Research, Seniors, Smoke-free
Shared by Housing Is on Dec 19, 2018

Health Starts at Home: A National Snapshot of Public Housing Authorities' Health Partnerships

Report
May 1, 2018
CLPHA and PAHRC
Housing and health systems need to work together. Public housing authorities (PHAs) are significant providers of housing to those in need, offering the health sector scale and expertise. Little was known about how PHAs worked with the health sector writ large.
0
0
0
0
Webinar
Community:
Dec 17, 2018
Webinar slide deck that provides a brief overview of FUP, building blocks of successful FUP voucher implementation, facilitated panel on increasing impact and enhancing FUP operations, and other opportunities and resources.

Authored by: CSH: 1 Roof and CLPHA
Topics: Child welfare, CLPHA, Foster care, Funding, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Partnerships, Preventative care, Safety, Supportive housing, Youth
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Dec 18, 2018
0
0
0
0
News Article
Community:
Dec 10, 2018
As state and federal officials increasingly search for ways to curb rising health care costs, a decades-old idea is gaining traction: helping people with challenges that have nothing to do with medical care but everything to do with their health.

Authored by: Misty Williams for Roll Call
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Food insecurity, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Nutrition, Partnerships, Preventative care, Stability, Transportation
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Dec 10, 2018
0
0
0
0
Research
Community:
May 16, 2018
Treating opioid use disorder among homeless families can reduce hepatitis C transmission, infant drug withdrawal, and overdose, which is the leading cause of death among people experiencing homelessness. Although office-based treatment is effective for homeless patients, homelessness (especially among families) creates barriers to office-based opioid treatment, such as stigma, child care needs, or distance from an office site. To reduce barriers to treatment, the Family Team at the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program added a shelter-based opioid treatment program to its outreach clinic at a family homeless shelter and motel. The Family Team consists of a physician, a nurse, two case managers, and a behavioral health clinician.

Authored by: American Public Health Association
Topics: Health, Homelessness, Housing, Place-based, Preventative care, Safety, Stability, Substance abuse
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 21, 2018
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Oct 3, 2018
More than a third of homeless people are part of a family, most of which are headed by women with at least one child. Homeless families are different from single homeless people, and their needs differ. But limited research focuses on these families. This study aims to fill the gap by exploring longitudinal health service use and expenditures for homeless family members before and after entering an emergency shelter.

Authored by: Robin Clark, Linda Weinreb, Julie Flahive, and Robert Seifert for the American Journal of Public Health
Topics: Family engagement, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Preventative care, Research, Stability
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 21, 2018

Early Detection and Intervention Could Improve Health Outcomes for Homeless Families

Report
Oct 3, 2018
Robin Clark, Linda Weinreb, Julie Flahive, and Robert Seifert for the American Journal of Public Health
More than a third of homeless people are part of a family, most of which are headed by women with at least one child. Homeless families are different from single homeless people, and their needs differ. But limited research focuses on these families.
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Nov 20, 2018
People with mental health disabilities are vastly overrepresented in the population of people who experience homelessness. Of the more than 550,000 people in America who experienced homelessness on a given night in 2017, 1 in 5 had a mental illness. The proportion of people experiencing chronic homelessness with mental health disabilities was even higher—nearly 1 in 3. Despite this fact, the reality is that most people with mental illness fortunately do not experience homelessness: While about 20 percent of all adults in the United States have a mental illness, less than two-tenths of 1 percent of people in the country experienced homelessness on a given night in 2017.

Authored by: Heidi Schultheis for Center for American Progress
Topics: Depression, Disabilities, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Mental health, Partnerships, Preventative care, Stability, Substance abuse, Supportive housing
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 20, 2018

Lack of Housing and Mental Health Disabilities Exacerbate One Another

Publication
Nov 20, 2018
Heidi Schultheis for Center for American Progress
People with mental health disabilities are vastly overrepresented in the population of people who experience homelessness. Of the more than 550,000 people in America who experienced homelessness on a given night in 2017, 1 in 5 had a mental illness.
0
0
0
0
News Article
Community:
Nov 14, 2018
HHS Secretary Alex Azar on Wednesday said Medicaid may soon allow hospitals and health systems to directly pay for housing, healthy food or other solutions for the "whole person."

Authored by: Paul Barr and Virgil Dickson for Modern Healthcare
Topics: Health, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Medicaid / Medicare, Mental health, Preventative care
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 15, 2018
0
0
0
0
Case study
Community:
Oct 31, 2018
To encourage architects and planners to design built environments that promote physical activity, New York City offers an “active design” building incentive within the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults ages 18 to 65 engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity (VPA) per week to reduce risk of disease and promote a healthy lifestyle, but in 2011, only 20 percent of Americans met these goals. Active design interventions provide an easy way for residents to increase their activity and meet these goals. This study analyzed the impact of the new design incentive on the activity levels of affordable housing residents at the Arbor House, a 124-unit development in the South Bronx that received the LEED credit.

Authored by: How Housing Matters, Preventative Medicine Reports
Topics: East Coast, Exercise, Health, Housing, Low-income, Place-based, Preventative care, Research
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 1, 2018
0
0
0
0
Webinar
Community:
Aug 29, 2018
Half of public housing authorities (PHAs) are engaged in at least one health initiative, almost all in partnership with the health sector, according to a new report by the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) and the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation (PAHRC).Health Starts at Home: A National Snapshot of Public Housing Authorities' Health Partnerships finds that PHAs are key players in addressing the intersection of housing and health and that deepening partnerships between PHAs and health providers can better serve residents' and communities’ health needs. Stephen Lucas (CLPHA), Keely Stater (PAHRC), and Kelly McElwain (PAHRC) discuss health initiatives taking place at PHAs across the country and strategies for better serving communities with cross-sector partnerships.

Authored by: CLPHA
Topics: CLPHA, Dual-eligibles, Health, Housing, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Mental health, Nutrition, Partnerships, Place-based, Preventative care, Research, Seniors
Shared by Housing Is on Oct 11, 2018
0
0
0
0
Webinar
Community:
Oct 9, 2018
CLPHA’s Education Working Group hosts a webinar with Bright by Text, a texting platform that connects caregivers with tools for improving educational outcomes for children. Bright by Text’s President and Senior Program Manager share information about their partnerships with housing authorities and non-profit housing providers across the country, providing insight into the benefits of connecting with residents through technology. CLPHA members who work with Bright by Text outline their respective initiatives and discussed local program goals.

Authored by: CLPHA
Topics: Child welfare, CLPHA, Dual-generation, Early childhood, Family engagement, Health, Home visiting, Housing, Housing Is Working Group, Partnerships, Place-based, Preventative care, Safety, School-readiness
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 10, 2018
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Aug 1, 2018
Through the hard work of communities around the country, we now have proof of something that we didn’t before—that ending homelessness is achievable. Home, Together builds upon what we have learned from states and communities over time, and lays out the strategies we know we must advance at the federal level in order to support and accelerate state and local progress.

Authored by: United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Data sharing, Disabilities, Dual-generation, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Mental health, Partnerships, Preventative care, Racial inequalities, Stability, Substance abuse, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 7, 2018
0
0
0
0
Interactive
Community:
Jul 20, 2018
Kaiser Permanente NW Community Benefit intends to award at least $1.5 million in community grants to support organizations that help people with behavioral health challenges to secure and maintain safe, stable housing. A minimum of five grants of up to $325,000 will be awarded for projects lasting 3 ½ years. Projects must include the involvement of peers or community health workers (CHWs) and must involve collaboration between housing providers, health care providers (including behavioral health service providers) and those community organizations employing peers or CHWs.

Authored by:
Topics: Funding, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Mental health, Pacific Northwest, Partnerships, Place-based, Preventative care, Substance abuse
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 20, 2018

Housing for Health Grant Initiative: Supported Housing for Individuals with Behavioral Health Challenges using Peer Supports

Interactive
Jul 20, 2018
Kaiser Permanente NW Community Benefit intends to award at least $1.5 million in community grants to support organizations that help people with behavioral health challenges to secure and maintain safe, stable housing.
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Jul 19, 2018
This policy brief examines how the physical inspection process can promote healthy affordable housing. A review of housing quality issues linked to health and the role of physical inspections to improve health is provided.

Authored by:
Topics: Asthma, Child welfare, Health, Housing, Lead, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Preventative care, Safety
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 19, 2018
0
0
0
0
Case study
Community:
Jul 17, 2018
The Mariposa Healthy Living Initiative began in 2009, when the Denver Housing Authority and its master planning team established physical, mental, and community health as a proxy to understand how redevelopment actions would change the quality of life for residents. The Initiative recognizes that the built environment is a determinant of health outcomes, which ultimately influence the quality and length of life for residents. The Initiative uses a responsive and rigorous approach to address environmental and social determinants of health, which include Healthy Housing, Environmental Stewardship, Sustainable and Safe Transportation, Social Cohesion, Public Infrastructure, and Healthy Economy. The Initiative framework is intended to be a living implementation tool for designers, developers, and practitioners.

Authored by:
Topics: Housing, Low-income, Partnerships, Place-based, Preventative care, Research, Safety, Transportation, West Coast
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 17, 2018
0
0
0
0
Case study
Community:
Jul 17, 2018
The South Lincoln Health Impact Assessment (HIA) focuses on the redevelopment master plan for the Denver Housing Authority’s South Lincoln Homes community in downtown Denver. The rapid HIA and masterplan was a four-month process that began in April 2009. The HIA identifies potential health impacts and recommends changes to optimize positive and minimize negative health consequences for the South Lincoln neighborhood. This assessment includes community demographic and socioeconomic information, identified potential health issues, interviews available surveys, and limited body measurement data along with supportive evidence-based research and recommendations that informed the HIA and masterplan design.

Authored by:
Topics: Child welfare, Community development, Disabilities, Dual-generation, Health, Housing, Low-income, Mental health, Metrics, Nutrition, Preventative care, Research, Safety
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 17, 2018
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Jul 13, 2018
Recognizing the layers to developing a health and housing partnership, this Literature Review and Resource Bank is intended to provide background and data resources that can be used in grant applications or in conversations with potential funders in the effort to foster new health and supportive housing partnerships.

Authored by:
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Criminal justice, Data sharing, Dual-eligibles, Funding, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Mental health, Partnerships, Post-secondary, Preventative care, Research, Seniors, Substance abuse, Supportive housing, Youth
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 13, 2018

Resources for Building Health Center & Housing Partnerships: Literature Review and Resource Bank

Publication
Jul 13, 2018
Recognizing the layers to developing a health and housing partnership, this Literature Review and Resource Bank is intended to provide background and data resources that can be used in grant applications or in conversations with potential funders in the effort to foster new health and supportive hou
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Jul 13, 2018

Authored by:
Topics: CLPHA, Data sharing, Health, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships, Preventative care, Research
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 13, 2018
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Jul 12, 2018
This report examines four specific aspects of the challenge before us: • The need for a much greater supply of homes affordable to our nation’s lowest-income seniors. • The importance of transforming homes and communities so that seniors can age with options, a desire shared by the overwhelming majority of older adults. • The imperative to better integrate health care and supportive services with housing, recognizing that this integration has the potential to improve health outcomes for seniors and reduce the costs borne by the health care system. • The need to deploy technologies on a far wider scale to help all Americans age successfully.

Authored by:
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Funding, Health, Home visiting, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships, Place-based, Preventative care, Seniors, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 12, 2018
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Jul 12, 2018

Authored by:
Topics: Child welfare, Dental, Early childhood, Education, Exercise, Family engagement, Health, Housing, Medicaid / Medicare, Mental health, Nutrition, Partnerships, Place-based, Preventative care, Seniors, Vision
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 12, 2018
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Jul 12, 2018
We examined the influence of maternal health literacy on child participation in social welfare programs. In this cohort, 20% of the mothers had inadequate or marginal health literacy. Initially, more than 50% of the families participated in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Food Stamp Program, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, whereas fewer than 15% received child care subsidies or public housing. In multivariate regression, TANF participation was more than twice as common among children whose mothers had adequate health literacy compared with children whose mothers had inadequate health literacy

Authored by:
Topics: Child welfare, Dual-generation, Early childhood, Education, Family engagement, Food insecurity, Health, Housing, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Nutrition, Pre-natal, Preventative care, Research, Stability
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 12, 2018
0
0
0
0
Report
Community:
Jul 12, 2018
This article deconstructs the history, structure, and financing that have made this unique partnership between Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, the Office of Homeless Services, and the Housing Authority, possible.

Authored by:
Topics: Data sharing, Disabilities, Dual-eligibles, Health, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Mental health, Partnerships, Preventative care, Research, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 12, 2018

Deconstructing Philadelphia's "Blueprint" Project: A Unique and Effective Multiyear partnership to Expand Permanent Supportive Housing

Report
Jul 12, 2018
This article deconstructs the history, structure, and financing that have made this unique partnership between Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, the Office of Homeless Services, and the Housing Authority, possible.