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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
 
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Case study
Community:
Oct 25, 2022
Unsheltered homelessness is on the rise amid a systemic and widespread lack of affordable housing, supportive services, and livable wages. As the housing crisis worsens, homelessness has become increasingly visible and, as a result, increasingly dominant as a public concern. Instead of addressing the issue’s root causes—a lack of housing and supportive services—many cities have leaned into punitive responses that criminalize homelessness, such as arresting people for sitting or sleeping in certain public places. But this approach is costly and ineffective. Police don’t solve homelessness, they only move it around—to other neighborhoods, jails, and emergency rooms—rather than connecting people with the housing and services they need. What would it take to actually end homelessness for people living on the street? And how would that affect the time and resources police spend managing the problem without solving it? New data from a supportive housing program in Denver show what could happen when communities address the underlying causes of homelessness rather than continuing the status quo.

Authored by: Emily Peiffer for the Urban Institute's Housing Matters initiative
Topics: Criminal justice, Homelessness, Supportive housing
Shared by Sandra Ware on Nov 1, 2022
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Publication
Community:
Mar 1, 2019
CSH selected the Center for Data Science and Public Policy (DSaPP) at the University of Chicago to develop a web-based data integration tool, which was completed in 2018. The tool connects county jail administrative data from the justice system to homeless system data, through communities’ Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS).

Authored by: CSH
Topics: Criminal justice, Data sharing, Homelessness, Housing, Midwest, Partnerships, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Apr 4, 2019
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Publication
Community:
Feb 27, 2019
Over the past two decades, criminal justice reform has focused on evidence-based interventions to prevent arrests and incarceration and to facilitate community reintegration. These initiatives represent a movement toward a less punitive, more holistic approach to public safety, targeting critical social factors that lead to and perpetuate criminal justice involvement. Because housing problems are often a key underlying factor for people’s involvement with the criminal justice system, there are ways housing interventions can help lessen criminal justice involvement. Decriminalizing homelessness, for example, can reduce rates of initial arrest and incarceration, especially for people with low-level, nonviolent offenses. A sufficient supply of affordable housing and supportive services could help people stabilize after their release from jail and reduce the likelihood of recidivism. Policymakers, advocates, and practitioners in housing and criminal justice systems can partner to promote and evaluate housing strategies that divert people from the criminal justice system.

Authored by: Kimberly Burrowes for How Housing Matters (Urban Institute)
Topics: Criminal justice, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Research, Stability
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Feb 28, 2019
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Publication
Community:
Jan 17, 2019
The North Coast Health Improvement and Information Network (NCHIIN) was funded by DASH CIC-START to add new partners, sectors, mental health client summary data, and facility alerts to ACT.md, the care coordination and alerts notification system in Humboldt County, CA. As part of their CIC-START project, NCHIIN developed this document, which provides a methodology for onboarding new organizations, data streams, and sectors into the ACT.md platform.

Authored by: Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH)
Topics: Criminal justice, Data sharing, Health, Mental health, Partnerships, Substance abuse
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Feb 20, 2019
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Publication
Community:
Feb 6, 2019
Decent, stable, and affordable rental housing has the power to improve lives, yet background checks and other systemic barriers reduce housing access and stability for a large part of the population—people who have been arrested or who are reentering communities after incarceration. The number of people who can be shut out of rental housing by criminal background checks and related policies calls for a national and local conversation about evidence-based ways to balance public safety and cohesion goals while supporting people with justice system histories in finding stable housing. Achieving this balance could interrupt cycles of inequity.

Authored by: Veronica Gaitan and Maya Brennan for How Housing Matters, Urban Institute
Topics: Criminal justice, Homelessness, Housing
Shared by Housing Is on Feb 7, 2019

For Reentry Success and Beyond, Rental Housing Access Matters

Publication
Feb 6, 2019
Veronica Gaitan and Maya Brennan for How Housing Matters, Urban Institute
Decent, stable, and affordable rental housing has the power to improve lives, yet background checks and other systemic barriers reduce housing access and stability for a large part of the population—people who have been arrested or who are reentering communities after incarceration.
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Publication
Community:
Individuals transitioning out of the criminal justice system need a good place to call home so that they can reconnect with society and rebuild their lives.

Authored by: Opportunity Starts at Home
Topics: Criminal justice, Homelessness, Housing, Partnerships, Research
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Jan 18, 2019
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Publication
Community:
Dec 14, 2018
Health and reentry are closely related, and chronic medical, mental health, and substance use problems make it harder for newly released people to seek employment, obtain housing, and avoid reincarceration. Compared with the general population, justice-involved people tend to be in poorer health and need access to physical and behavioral health services, as well as the know-how and motivation to get care.

Authored by: Rochisa Shukla and Kamala Mallik-Kane for Urban Institute
Topics: Affordable Care Act, Criminal justice, Health, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Research, Stability
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Dec 14, 2018
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Publication
Community:
Dec 6, 2018
When we refer to people who are, or have been, in contact with the criminal justice system as “felons,” “offenders,” “inmates,” or “convicts,” we define them by the worst act of their lives, creating a stigma that lingers long after they’ve paid their debt to society. If we are serious about removing barriers for people with felony convictions, we must change the words we use to describe them.

Authored by: Cameron Okeke and Nancy G. La Vigne for The Urban Institute
Topics: Criminal justice, Legislation & Policy, Racial inequalities
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Dec 6, 2018

Restoring humanity: Changing the way we talk about people touched by the criminal justice system

Publication
Dec 6, 2018
Cameron Okeke and Nancy G. La Vigne for The Urban Institute
When we refer to people who are, or have been, in contact with the criminal justice system as “felons,” “offenders,” “inmates,” or “convicts,” we define them by the worst act of their lives, creating a stigma that lingers long after they’ve paid their debt to society.
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Case study
Community:
Sep 25, 2018
Practitioners working on community safety have increasingly incorporated creative placemaking techniques into their work. Creative placemaking refers to the ways in which arts and culture change how people use the places they share.

Authored by: Mark Treskon for Urban Institute
Topics: Community development, Criminal justice, Low-income, Out-of-school time, Partnerships, Place-based
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 10, 2018
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Publication
Community:
Jul 27, 2018
On January 1, 2014, in states that have chosen to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, nearly all chronically homeless people who lacked health insurance became eligible for Medicaid. This Primer offers state Medicaid officials and other interested parties strategies for using Medicaid to meet the needs of this very vulnerable population--some strategies that have succeeded in the past and some that are emerging under provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Authored by:
Topics: Affordable Care Act, Criminal justice, Disabilities, Dual-eligibles, Funding, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Mental health, Partnerships, Stability, Substance abuse, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 27, 2018

A Primer on Using Medicaid for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness and Tenants in Permanent Supportive Housing

Publication
Jul 27, 2018
On January 1, 2014, in states that have chosen to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, nearly all chronically homeless people who lacked health insurance became eligible for Medicaid.
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Publication
Community:
Jul 23, 2018
Part of New York State’s Homelessness Action Plan includes an investment of new supportive housing resources and services over the next five years to address vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness. Therefore, the availability of and access to various support services such as employment and training opportunities, parenting, counseling, independent living skills training, primary healthcare, substance disorder treatment and mental health care, child care, and benefits advocacy are critical components of any project funded under this plan.

Authored by:
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Criminal justice, Disabilities, Domestic violence, Foster care, Funding, Homelessness, Housing, Medicaid / Medicare, Mental health, Substance abuse, Supportive housing, Youth
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 23, 2018

Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative: Inter-Agency Service and Operating Funding Opportunity Request for Proposals (2016)

Publication
Jul 23, 2018
Part of New York State’s Homelessness Action Plan includes an investment of new supportive housing resources and services over the next five years to address vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness.
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Publication
Community:
Jul 19, 2018
Assisting public housing residents on the path towards self-sufficiency requires going beyond providing decent, safe, and affordable housing. Public housing residents may face barriers to employment, such as limited education, job skills and/or proficiency in the English language. This toolkit is a resource for both frontline staff and management. It offers examples of how partnerships between DOL and HUD can increase public housing resident employment and create mutual benefit for both agencies.

Authored by:
Topics: Criminal justice, Disabilities, Funding, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, MTW, Partnerships, Workforce development
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 19, 2018

From the Ground Up: Creating Sustainable Partnerships between Public Housing Authorities and Workforce Investment Boards

Publication
Jul 19, 2018
Assisting public housing residents on the path towards self-sufficiency requires going beyond providing decent, safe, and affordable housing. Public housing residents may face barriers to employment, such as limited education, job skills and/or proficiency in the English language.
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Publication
Community:
Jul 19, 2018
Young adults ages 18-24 require specific, targeted services and interventions from the juvenile justice and homelessness service providers with whom they interact if they are to achieve successful outcomes and avoid longterm harms. This resource is intended to assist policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders in applying an earlier report, “Addressing the Intersections of Juvenile Justice Involvement and Youth Homelessness: Principles for Change.” in their work with and on behalf of young people in this age group who are under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system.

Authored by:
Topics: Criminal justice, Homelessness, Partnerships, Racial inequalities, Youth
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 19, 2018

Implementing Change: Addressing the Intersections of Juvenile Justice and Youth Homelessness for Young Adults

Publication
Jul 19, 2018
Young adults ages 18-24 require specific, targeted services and interventions from the juvenile justice and homelessness service providers with whom they interact if they are to achieve successful outcomes and avoid longterm harms.
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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