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

Sign Up or Sign In
 

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. 

Learn More
 

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
 
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
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.
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
Report
Community:
Jul 19, 2018
In December 2016, federal and state policymakers examined health and housing issues at a meeting convened in Washington, D.C., by the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) with support from The Commonwealth Fund. The goal of the meeting was to identify concrete policy recommendations and actionable steps to align health and housing programs to ensure that people with high service needs receive the housing and supportive services they need to become and stay healthy. This report summarizes their findings and recommendations

Authored by:
Topics: Data sharing, Disabilities, Health, Homelessness, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 19, 2018
0
0
0
0
Research
Community:
Jul 19, 2018
The link between federal housing policy and public health has been understood since the nineteenth century, when housing activists first sought to abolish slums and create healthful environments. This article describes how the Obama administration—building on these efforts and those that followed, including the Great Society programs of President Lyndon Johnson—has adopted a cross-sector approach that takes health considerations into account when formulating housing and community development policy. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development fully embraces this “health in all policies” approach. Nonetheless, the administration’s strategy faces challenges, including fiscal and political ones. Some of these challenges may be overcome by conducting quality research on how housing and community development policies affect health outcomes, and by developing a federal budget strategy that takes into account how investments in one sector contribute to cost savings in another.

Authored by:
Topics: Affordable Care Act, Community development, Disabilities, Health, Healthy homes, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Mobility, Partnerships, Place-based, RAD, Research
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 19, 2018
0
0
0
0
Research
Community:
Jul 18, 2018
We examined whether receiving housing assistance is associated with improved health and well-being using a nationally representative sample of the US population. Specifically, we examined whether entry into housing assistance was associated with better reported health or reduced psychological distress relative to awaiting admission and whether there were differential effects associated with the 3 primary program categories: public housing, housing choice vouchers, and multifamily housing. Furthermore, we explored whether the health effects of housing assistance are mediated by neighborhood characteristics.

Authored by:
Topics: Health, Housing, Low-income, Mental health, Research
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 18, 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 17, 2018
The Denver Social Impact Bond program is an initiative aimed at measurably improving the lives of people most in need by driving resources towards better, more effective programs. Social Impact Bonds are a unique type of performance-based contract where private and/or philanthropic lenders loan funds to accomplish a specific objective and are repaid based on whether the program achieves its goals. Denver’s Social Impact Bond program will use funds from lenders to provide housing and supportive case management services to at least 250 homeless individuals who frequently use the city’s emergency services, including police, jail, the courts and emergency rooms.

Authored by:
Topics: Community development, Cost effectiveness, Criminal justice, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Mental health, Partnerships, Stability, Substance abuse, West Coast
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 17, 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
Research
Community:
Jul 13, 2018
Hospitals Building Healthier Communities aims to provide a resource for hospitals considering adopting or further integrating community engagement and economic development into their daily operations and their core mission.

Authored by:
Topics: Community development, Data sharing, Health, Housing, Low-income, Partnerships, Place-based, Research
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 13, 2018
0
0
0
0
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
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Jul 13, 2018
This paper offers strategic guidance in building, assessing and/or strengthening various types of partnerships between Health Center Program Grantees, behavioral health providers and supportive housing providers. Whether you represent one of these types of organizations or you are merely curious about health and housing partnerships, you can use this guide as your roadmap.

Authored by:
Topics: Data sharing, Dual-eligibles, Health, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 13, 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
Report
Community:
Jul 13, 2018
This document highlights actions states and other entities have taken to improve service delivery and financing of the services delivered by supportive housing providers.

Authored by:
Topics: Health, Housing, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 13, 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
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 13, 2018
This fact sheet describes how a landlord may legally prohibit smoking in common spaces and individual units, and explains how to implement a smokefree policy in compliance with the rent control law, where applicable. It also includes options for addressing possible enforcement and compliance issues that may arise once a policy is in place.

Authored by:
Topics: Family engagement, Health, Housing, Low-income, Smoke-free, West Coast
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
Report
Community:
Jul 12, 2018
The structure of the evaluation is designed around several research domains that, together, provide a comprehensive assessment of the Community-based Care Transitions Program. The research concentrates on the following areas: • Program Implementation/Operational Issues. • Beneficiary Participation. • Provider Participation. • Utilization and Readmissions. • Costs/Savings. • Quality Monitoring and Quality Improvement. • Unintended Consequences.

Authored by:
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Data sharing, Health, Low-income, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships, Seniors
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 12, 2018
0
0
0
0
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.
0
0
0
0
Publication
Community:
Jul 12, 2018
With the new administration and Congress, policymakers have an opportunity to forge an enduring bipartisan consensus on affordable rental housing. There is more agreement between the two political parties than one might think: Strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, expanding the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program, continuing efforts to reduce homelessness, infusing real choice into the housing voucher program by enabling greater mobility, expanding self-sufficiency and asset-building incentives, and reducing regulatory barriers to increase affordable housing production—all have bipartisan buy-in. The question is whether lawmakers can find the political will to devote to the effort and the resources to make significant progress. This brief lays out the possible parameters of such a consensus plan.

Authored by:
Topics: Dual-generation, Funding, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Mobility, RAD, Research
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 12, 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

Healthy Aging Begins at Home

Publication
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 ma
0
0
0
0
Case study
Community:
Jul 12, 2018
The Trauma Informed Community Building (TICB) model is based on BRIDGE Housing Corporation’s experience doing community building work over the past five years in the Potrero Terrace and Annex public housing sites in San Francisco, CA.

Authored by:
Topics: Child welfare, Community development, Dual-generation, Family engagement, Low-income, Mental health, Partnerships, Place-based, Preventative care, Research, Safety
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 12, 2018

Best and Promising Practices: Trauma Informed Community Building - A model for Strengthening Communities in Trauma Affected Neighborhoods

Case study
Jul 12, 2018
The Trauma Informed Community Building (TICB) model is based on BRIDGE Housing Corporation’s experience doing community building work over the past five years in the Potrero Terrace and Annex public housing sites in San Francisco, CA.