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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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News Article
Community:
Dec 6, 2018
Recent research shows that social safety net programs benefit everyone.

Authored by: David L. Kirk for The New York Times
Topics: Asset building, Child welfare, Community development, Food insecurity, Legislation & Policy, Medicaid / Medicare, Racial inequalities, Research, Workforce development
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Dec 6, 2018
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Research
Community:
Nov 19, 2018
For decades, free and reduced-price lunch (FRPL) status has been used as a proxy measure for student poverty. Families filled out paper lunch forms, and these were the basis for allocating resources to schools, defining accountability goals, and conducting research. But recent changes to the National School Lunch Program mean that FRPL status is in decline as a measure of student need, and states are turning to alternatives.

Authored by: Erica Greenberg for The Urban Institute
Topics: Child welfare, Education, Food insecurity, Health, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Metrics, Research, Youth
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 19, 2018

New measures of student poverty solve some challenges - and create others

Research
Nov 19, 2018
Erica Greenberg for The Urban Institute
For decades, free and reduced-price lunch (FRPL) status has been used as a proxy measure for student poverty. Families filled out paper lunch forms, and these were the basis for allocating resources to schools, defining accountability goals, and conducting research.
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Publication
Community:
Resources and presentation slides

Authored by: Food Research & Action Center
Topics: Food insecurity, Housing, Immigrants, Legislation & Policy
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 15, 2018
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Research
Community:
Nov 1, 2018
Are families prioritizing their housing payments by jeopardizing their health and well-being, missing utility payments, skipping meals, or failing to keep up with medical needs or medical bills? And are renters less able than homeowners to weather a financial emergency, such as an unexpected medical expense? Our research suggests this may be the case.

Authored by: Corianne Scally and Dulce Gonzalez for The Urban Institute
Topics: Asset building, Child welfare, Food insecurity, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Research, Stability
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 7, 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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Policy Brief
Community:
Nov 5, 2018
The potential impacts of expanding the regulation known as “public charge” have yet to be fully understood, but experts anticipate that young children in immigrant families—more than 90 percent of them US citizens—could be disproportionately affected. The proposed rule could make it more difficult for noncitizens to obtain green cards or temporary visas by negatively weighing several factors during the immigration admissions process, including current or potential participation in safety net programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Authored by: Erica Greenberg and Archana Pyati for The Urban Institute
Topics: Child welfare, Early childhood, Education, Food insecurity, Housing, Immigrants, Legislation & Policy, Low-income
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Nov 5, 2018

Could "public charge" reduce public preschool participation among immigrant families?

Policy Brief
Nov 5, 2018
Erica Greenberg and Archana Pyati for The Urban Institute
The potential impacts of expanding the regulation known as “public charge” have yet to be fully understood, but experts anticipate that young children in immigrant families—more than 90 percent of them US citizens—could be disproportionately affected.
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News Article
Community:
Sep 24, 2018
The Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (Calif.) developed an innovative community garden to provide access to affordable and fresh food as well as skills training and job opportunities.

Authored by: Ashanti Wright for Journal of Housing & Community Development
Topics: Community development, Food insecurity, Green, Health, Housing, Low-income, Nutrition, Place-based, Sustainability, Youth
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 30, 2018

The Growing Experience

News Article
Sep 24, 2018
Ashanti Wright for Journal of Housing & Community Development
The Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles (Calif.) developed an innovative community garden to provide access to affordable and fresh food as well as skills training and job opportunities.
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News Article
Community:
Oct 9, 2018
Sweet Water Foundation transformed four blocks in Englewood to cultivate community and help build skills, resources, and opportunities for residents.

Authored by: MacArthur Foundation
Topics: Community development, Family engagement, Food insecurity, Green, Health, Low-income, Midwest, Nutrition, Partnerships, Place-based, Sustainability, Youth
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 24, 2018
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Policy Brief
Community:
Oct 9, 2018
This brief highlights evidence on nutrition supports for families with young children and proposes a policy-focused research agenda designed to address knowledge gaps in two areas: (1) understanding disparities in participation in nutrition supports and (2) assessing strategies to increase access to nutrition supports and reduce nutrition disparities.

Authored by: Mathematica
Topics: Child welfare, Dual-generation, Early childhood, Food insecurity, Low-income, Nutrition, Research
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 22, 2018

Nutrition Supports for Families with Young Children: An Equity-Focused Policy Research Agenda

Policy Brief
Oct 9, 2018
Mathematica
This brief highlights evidence on nutrition supports for families with young children and proposes a policy-focused research agenda designed to address knowledge gaps in two areas: (1) understanding disparities in participation in nutrition supports and (2) assessing strategies to increase access to
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News Article
Community:
Oct 2, 2018
Students have around 60 programs at their disposal, from advanced manufacturing to emergency medical response.

Authored by: Heather Burian for CT
Topics: East Coast, Education, Food insecurity, Health, Low-income, Post-secondary, Youth
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Oct 4, 2018
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Case study
Community:
Aug 9, 2018
The Vita Health & Wellness District is a one-mile corridor in Stamford, Connecticut, that has positioned itself as a “health-themed neighborhood,” offering mixed-income housing, health care services, community farming, early childhood education programming, and supportive services to residents. Led by the city’s public housing authority Charter Oak Communities and Stamford Hospital, this collaboration of city agencies and community-based organizations has focused on building physical and social capacity in a distressed neighborhood, with an emphasis on leveraging collective investments to yield a positive impact on neighborhood health and well-being.

Authored by:
Topics: Community development, Education, Food insecurity, Funding, Health, Housing, Nutrition, Partnerships
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 9, 2018

Tapping into a Collective Vision: Emerging Strategies for Integrating Health and Housing

Case study
Aug 9, 2018
The Vita Health & Wellness District is a one-mile corridor in Stamford, Connecticut, that has positioned itself as a “health-themed neighborhood,” offering mixed-income housing, health care services, community farming, early childhood education programming, and supportive services to residents.
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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
Work requirements in public housing are highly controversial, and little is known about their impacts. We examined how implementation of a work requirement paired with supportive services by Charlotte Housing Authority has impacted residents’ overall well-being. Although the policy might improve well-being by increasing household income, it might also engender stress through greater housing precarity.

Authored by:
Topics: Depression, Disabilities, Education, Food insecurity, Health, Housing, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Mental health, Metrics, MTW, Partnerships, Racial inequalities, Research, South, Workforce development
Shared by Housing Is on Aug 1, 2018
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News Article
Community:
Jul 27, 2018
Health promotion interventions in public housing communities have the potential to reduce obesity among residents, a new study shows. Changes in their environment, such as fresh food trucks, walking groups, screenings, and cooking demos, helped Boston residents eat better and get more exercise.

Authored by: University of Washington School of Medicine
Topics: East Coast, Exercise, Food insecurity, Health, Housing, Low-income, Nutrition, Obesity, Research
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 27, 2018

Study Tests Healthy Living Strategies in Public Housing

News Article
Jul 27, 2018
University of Washington School of Medicine
Health promotion interventions in public housing communities have the potential to reduce obesity among residents, a new study shows. Changes in their environment, such as fresh food trucks, walking groups, screenings, and cooking demos, helped Boston residents eat better and get more exercise.
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Publication
Community:
Jan 1, 2018
SAHF members believe that connecting residents of affordable housing with needed supports – such as educational resources or health services – can help vulnerable families and seniors achieve a better quality of life. SAHF began the Outcomes Initiative to create a common framework for its members to demonstrate with data the impact on residents of providing housing-based services and support in the five key areas listed below.

Authored by: Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF)
Topics: Asset building, Cost effectiveness, Dual-generation, Education, Exercise, Food insecurity, Health, Housing, Mental health, Metrics, Nutrition, Safety, Stability
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 26, 2018
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Publication
Community:
Jul 24, 2018
The community development “industry”—a network of nonprofit service providers, real estate developers, financial institutions, foundations, and government—draws on public subsidies and other financing to transform impoverished neighborhoods into better-functioning communities. Although such activity positively affects the “upstream” causes of poor health, the community development industry rarely collaborates with the health sector or even considers health effects in its work. We propose a four-point plan to help ensure that existing and future collaborations achieve positive outcomes and sustainable progress for residents and investors alike.

Authored by:
Topics: Community development, Food insecurity, Funding, Health, Low-income, Partnerships, Supportive housing, Transportation
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 24, 2018

Partnerships Among Community Development, Public Health, and Health Care Could Improve the Well-Being of Low-Income People

Publication
Jul 24, 2018
The community development “industry”—a network of nonprofit service providers, real estate developers, financial institutions, foundations, and government—draws on public subsidies and other financing to transform impoverished neighborhoods into better-functioning communities.
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Case study
Community:
Jul 13, 2018
The Conway Center is a project of a nonprofit housing and services organization, So Others Might Eat, and a federally qualified health center, Unity Health Care, in Washington, DC. This $90 million community development initiative will colocate employment training, health care services, and affordable housing under one roof in Ward 7, an area of DC experiencing high poverty and unemployment, and poor health outcomes. The partnership aims to improve access to affordable rental housing, increase livable-wage job attainment, and connect residents to high-quality health care services. Although still under construction, this partnership highlights how a shared vision among community-serving organizations and funders can result in a comprehensive strategy for improving resident health and well-being

Authored by:
Topics: Community development, Cost effectiveness, Food insecurity, Health, Housing, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships, Place-based, Stability
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 13, 2018
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Publication
Community:
Jul 12, 2018
This brief aims to bring attention to non-Medicaid funding sources that states could potentially blend or braid to address social determinants of health and other needs that are not typically covered by Medicaid. It is intended to familiarize state Medicaid, public health, and other state policymakers with the funding streams of other agencies, and sketch out a continuum of options to help states coordinate funding to better serve the needs of low-income populations. Because this brief focuses on services for adult Medicaid beneficiaries, it does not address many of the funding sources available for children’s services. However, existing efforts to pool funds for children and youth—notably by the Commonwealth of Virginia—could prove instructive for states seeking to launch such an effort for adults.

Authored by:
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Data sharing, Dual-eligibles, Food insecurity, Funding, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Mental health, Partnerships, Research, Substance abuse
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 12, 2018

Braiding & Blending Funding Streams to Meet the Health-Related Social Needs of Low-Income Persons: Considerations for State Health Policymakers

Publication
Jul 12, 2018
This brief aims to bring attention to non-Medicaid funding sources that states could potentially blend or braid to address social determinants of health and other needs that are not typically covered by Medicaid.
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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
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News Article
Community:
Aug 1, 2016
Boulder County, Colo., pioneered the movement. What can others learn from their experience?

Authored by: Mattie Quinn for Governing the State and Localities
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Data sharing, Dual-eligibles, Food insecurity, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships, Place-based, Supportive housing, West Coast
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 5, 2018
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Research
Community:
Jan 18, 2018
A new study suggests that America’s great nutritional divide goes deeper than the problem of food access within cities.

Authored by: Richard Florida for City Lab
Topics: Child welfare, Food insecurity, Health, Low-income, Nutrition, Obesity, Racial inequalities, Research
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 5, 2018
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News Article
Community:
Jul 2, 2018
Poor children don't struggle in school because of their parents. They struggle because of poverty.

Authored by: Mical Raz for The Washington Post
Topics: Attendance, Child welfare, Dual-generation, Early childhood, Education, Family engagement, Food insecurity, Grade-level proficiency, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Literacy, Low-income, Out-of-school time, Post-secondary, Racial inequalities, Research, School-readiness, Youth
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Jul 3, 2018