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
Policy Brief
Community:
Mar 28, 2023
Family separations and family detention have been used as part of immigration enforcement in the United States. These practices and policies are severely detrimental to child health and wellbeing and can cause lasting harm. This brief reviews the state of the research on the developmental, psychological, and physical toll of family separation and family detention on children and their caregivers. Grounded in this science, we provide a set of policy recommendations that protect child health and wellbeing.

Authored by: Kelly Edyburn, PhD & Shantel Meek, PhD for the Children's Equity Project
Topics: Child welfare, Early childhood, Health, Immigrants, Legislation & Policy, Mental health, Youth
Shared by Sandra Ware on Mar 30, 2023
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Dec 4, 2019
In California, more than 3.7 million students were eligible for free or reduced priced school meals in the 2017-2018 school year. For many of those students, school meals are the primary source of regular access to healthy food. When the bell rings at 3:00 or lets out for summer break, many of those students go home to nutritional uncertainty or high-calorie, low-nutrient foods. For many low-income families, the out-of-school-time food access gap increases family stress: limited budgets are stretched further to cover food, rent, utilities, transportation, medications, and chidcare costs. For very young children, food insecurity can negatively impact brain and physical development. For children of all ages, disrupted access to healthy food can impact behavior, increase risk of obesity, make it harder to concentrate, or exacerbate existing healthy conditions like type 2 diabetes. The impact is not limited to summer, and can lead to a rocky start to the school year, negatively impacting school attendance and students’ ability to effectively participate in school. Read the full brief to learn how public and affordable housing communities can address food insecurity for children and youth with the help of out-of-school-time USDA child nutrition programs.

Authored by:
Topics: Advocacy, Early childhood, Food insecurity, Health, Healthy homes, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Nutrition, Out-of-school time, West Coast, Youth
Shared by Linda Lu on Dec 4, 2019

Keeping Kids Healthy and Engaged When School is Out Through Public and Affordable Housing Communities

Policy Brief
Dec 4, 2019
In California, more than 3.7 million students were eligible for free or reduced priced school meals in the 2017-2018 school year. For many of those students, school meals are the primary source of regular access to healthy food.
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Jun 4, 2019
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced its intention to roll back protections for transgender people experiencing homelessness. The newly proposed rule, which is in the early stages of the rulemaking process and has not yet been publicly posted to the Federal Register, would allow homeless shelters to discriminate based on gender identity, putting transgender people in danger of violence and further housing instability. This is part of a long string of attacks the Trump administration has directed toward the transgender community, such as implementing the infamous military ban, contributing to a pattern that legally perpetuates discrimination against transgender people in this country.

Authored by: Aastha Uprety for Equal Rights Center
Topics: Health, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Racial inequalities
Shared by Housing Is on Jun 13, 2019
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Oct 1, 2016
Emerging health care financing models require much more sophisticated actuarial calculations than previous payment arrangements, often taking into account risk factors such as homelessness. Homelessness also has direct implications for clinical treatment decisions and integrated care models and should be noted in individual patient records. This policy brief provides a rationale for using the ICD-10-CM code for homelessness, outlines the challenges to maximizing this code, and offers strategies to consider to ensure health care providers ask about homelessness and record patients’ housing status. This data is highly relevant to clinicians and administrators at health centers, hospitals, state Medicaid systems, Medicaid managed care organizations, and public health departments.

Authored by: National Health Care for the Homeless Council
Topics: Health, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Mar 26, 2019
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
This annotated resource compilation is intended to help state and local agencies access information and resources needed to better understand the federal legal protections and requirements associated with datasets collected by federal agencies or as part of a federally funded program.

Authored by: The Network for Public Health Law
Topics: Data sharing, Disabilities, Early childhood, Education, Health, Homelessness, Legislation & Policy, Post-secondary
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Feb 20, 2019

Federal Privacy Laws

Policy Brief
The Network for Public Health Law
This annotated resource compilation is intended to help state and local agencies access information and resources needed to better understand the federal legal protections and requirements associated with datasets collected by federal agencies or as part of a federally funded program.
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
More than one-third of adult public housing residents in the US smoke—totaling approximately 400,000 smokers, putting other residents and staff at risk of negative health effects.

Authored by: Building Success
Topics: Asthma, Health, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Place-based, Smoke-free
Shared by Housing Is on Feb 4, 2019
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Jan 30, 2019
Under the continuing resolution (CR) that provided the funding to reopen the government for three weeks, SNAP (food stamps) now is fully funded at least through March, even if the government shuts down again on February 15. Millions of families, however, face a longer-than-usual gap between their February and March benefits because the Agriculture Department worked with states to issue February benefits early during the shutdown, and that could further strain household budgets, the emergency food network, and other community resources.

Authored by: Dottie Rensbaum for The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Topics: Food insecurity, Funding, Health, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Nutrition
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Jan 30, 2019

SNAP Can Cover Full Benefits Through March, But Participants Face Big Gaps Between February and March Benefits

Policy Brief
Jan 30, 2019
Dottie Rensbaum for The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Under the continuing resolution (CR) that provided the funding to reopen the government for three weeks, SNAP (food stamps) now is fully funded at least through March, even if the government shuts down again on February 15.
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Nov 2, 2018
The new opioid legislation—the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention That Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (the SUPPORT Act)—signed into law on October 24 includes targeted expansions in treatment, including provisions that provide funding or flexibility to states to expand access to treatment for substance use disorders (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), and health care more generally in Medicaid and Medicare.

Authored by: Eva H. Allen and Lisa Clemans-Cope for The Urban Institute
Topics: Affordable Care Act, Health, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Safety, Substance abuse
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 5, 2018

The new opioid legislation takes important steps toward expanding treatment and coverage

Policy Brief
Nov 2, 2018
Eva H. Allen and Lisa Clemans-Cope for The Urban Institute
The new opioid legislation—the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention That Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (the SUPPORT Act)—signed into law on October 24 includes targeted expansions in treatment, including provisions that provide funding or flexibility to states
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Aug 9, 2018
Partnerships between medicaid and supportive housing providers

Authored by:
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Funding, Health, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 9, 2018
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Jul 20, 2018
This report examines several ways in which health care changes created by the ACA, and other health care reform initiatives, create the potential for affordable housing providers to collaborate with health care providers, insurers, and other institutions to support the wellbeing of low-income individuals and families.

Authored by:
Topics: Affordable Care Act, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 20, 2018

Affordable Housing's Place in Health Care: Opportunities Created by the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Reform

Policy Brief
Jul 20, 2018
This report examines several ways in which health care changes created by the ACA, and other health care reform initiatives, create the potential for affordable housing providers to collaborate with health care providers, insurers, and other institutions to support the wellbeing of low-income indiv
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
Policy Brief
Community:
Jul 17, 2018
Medicaid is the nation’s public health insurance program for people with low income. The Medicaid program covers more than 70 million Americans, or 1 in 5, including many with complex and costly needs for care. The vast majority of Medicaid enrollees lack access to other affordable health insurance. Medicaid covers a broad array of health services and limits enrollee out-of-pocket costs. The program is also the principal source of long-term care coverage for Americans. As the nation’s single largest insurer, Medicaid provides significant financing for hospitals, community health centers, physicians, and nursing homes, and jobs in the health care sector. The Medicaid program finances over 16% of all personal health care spending in the U.S.

Authored by:
Topics: Affordable Care Act, Funding, Health, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 17, 2018
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Jul 13, 2018
A Toolkit for State Agencies

Authored by:
Topics: Affordable Care Act, Health, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 13, 2018
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Jul 13, 2018
This report is intended to help public health advocates and policymakers formulate input into the QAP process, with the objective of developing healthier homes. We describe the rationale for including a wide range of public health-related criteria in QAPs, identify and describe QAP criteria that can have a positive impact on public health, and suggest how public health advocates can get involved in revising their state QAPs.

Authored by:
Topics: Exercise, Funding, Health, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Place-based, Safety, Smoke-free
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 13, 2018
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Jul 13, 2018
Practitioners and community advocates working at the intersection of housing and health have a unique role to play, both in guaranteeing quality affordable housing remains available for people of all incomes, and in making sure new investments in neighborhoods contribute to a healthy environment. To support those efforts, this guide includes the following: An overview of how renewed interest in urban centers is affecting housing affordability; A summary of the research linking rising housing costs to poor health outcomes; A set of key recommendations communities should consider as part of an overall approach to preserving, protecting, and enhancing affordable housing; and A library of local housing policies and strategies that communities can use to ensure the availability of affordable housing options, with a particular focus on rental affordability.

Authored by:
Topics: Funding, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, RAD, Safety
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 13, 2018

Preserving, Protecting, and Expanding Affordable Housing: A Policy Toolkit for Public Health

Policy Brief
Jul 13, 2018
Practitioners and community advocates working at the intersection of housing and health have a unique role to play, both in guaranteeing quality affordable housing remains available for people of all incomes, and in making sure new investments in neighborhoods contribute to a healthy environment.
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Jul 13, 2018
The tools and strategies included here provide communities with ideas and inspiration to help them plan for healthy housing for all their residents. They include best practices culled from across the United States as well as new ideas.

Authored by:
Topics: Funding, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Racial inequalities, RAD
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 13, 2018
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Jul 10, 2018
This brief explores how state Medicaid agencies have utilized a variety of federal authorities and delivery systems to increase access to supportive housing services and highlights important implementation considerations.

Authored by:
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Criminal justice, Data sharing, Funding, Health, Healthy homes, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Mental health, Partnerships, Substance abuse, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 10, 2018

Strategies to Strengthen Health and Housing Partnerships Through Medicaid to Improve Health Care for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

Policy Brief
Jul 10, 2018
This brief explores how state Medicaid agencies have utilized a variety of federal authorities and delivery systems to increase access to supportive housing services and highlights important implementation considerations.
0
0
0
0
Policy Brief
Community:
Jul 10, 2018
This brief provides an overview of current federal standards and state options in Medicaid to help inform upcoming debates about increasing state flexibility in the program as part of efforts to restructure Medicaid financing.

Authored by:
Topics: Affordable Care Act, Cost effectiveness, Funding, Health, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 10, 2018