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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.

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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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Policy Brief
Community:
Mar 1, 2023
Unfortunately, there are more youth experiencing homelessness than there are resources available. Up to 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+). Homelessness is often the result of multiple factors including historical and present systemic racism, discrimination, and socio-economic inequities. Learn more in our new policy brief.

Authored by: National Network for Youth
Topics: Criminal justice, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Mental health, Racial inequalities, Safety, Stability, Youth
Shared by Sandra Ware on Jun 8, 2023
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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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News Article
Community:
Apr 21, 2019
The county’s preliminary results look promising: more than 78% of Vital clients were booked into jail less often once enrolled in the program for at least six months. On average, Vital participants went to jail about a third less often per year compared to the three years before their enrollment. A typical client had at least two fewer bookings into a King County Jail compared to the three years before entering the program.

Authored by: Vianna Davila for The Seattle Times
Topics: Criminal justice, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Mental health, Partnerships, Substance abuse
Shared by Housing Is on Apr 25, 2019

From homelessness to jail and back: King County Tries to halt cycle

News Article
Apr 21, 2019
Vianna Davila for The Seattle Times
The county’s preliminary results look promising: more than 78% of Vital clients were booked into jail less often once enrolled in the program for at least six months. On average, Vital participants went to jail about a third less often per year compared to the three years before their enrollment.
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News Article
Community:
Apr 5, 2019
An Idaho lawsuit concerning how cities across the West enforce laws about sleeping in public—potentially changing how they treat their homeless populations—is now established as precedent. Barring a decision by the Supreme Court to address the case of Martin v. City of Boise, cities will not be able to arrest or punish people for sleeping on public property unless they provide adequate and relatively accessible indoor accommodations.

Authored by: Patrick Sisson for Curbed
Topics: Criminal justice, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Apr 11, 2019
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Interactive
Community:
The Legal Bibliography is collection of 100+ papers, toolkits and other materials focused on privacy, consent and policy documentation. Co-developed by the Network for Public Health Law and Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH), the Bibliography is a growing resource for lawyers and community data practitioners, intended to support local collaboratives in their efforts to share data across sectors.

Authored by: Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH) and Network for Public Health Law (NPHL)
Topics: Criminal justice, Data sharing, Education, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Mental health, Partnerships, Safety
Shared by Housing Is on Apr 8, 2019
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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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News Article
Community:
Mar 25, 2019
Many former offenders are denied housing — not because of the lack of funds or the failure to meet objective criteria, but because of their criminal history. Case in point: Matthew Charles, one of the first prisoners released under the First Step Act and one of President Trump’s guests at the State of Union address in February, has had difficulty securing an apartment, even with help from Kim Kardashian West.

Authored by: Karen Freeman-Wilson for The Washington Post
Topics: Criminal justice, Homelessness, Housing
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Mar 26, 2019
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Research
Community:
Mar 20, 2019
Launched in 2016, the Denver Supportive Housing SIB aims to support residents struggling with homelessness, substance use, and mental health problems by increasing the number of people getting and staying housed and reducing the number of days they spend in jail. The permanent supportive housing model combines a permanent housing subsidy with wraparound services, such as mental health counseling, to help people improve their stability. In Denver, MHCD and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) were selected to offer these services as part of the SIB.

Authored by: The Urban Institute
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Criminal justice, Homelessness, Housing, Low-income, Pacific Northwest, Partnerships, Research, Substance abuse
Shared by Mica O'Brien on Mar 26, 2019

Starting with Stability: How Denver Is Breaking the Homelessness-Jail Cycle

Research
Mar 20, 2019
The Urban Institute
Launched in 2016, the Denver Supportive Housing SIB aims to support residents struggling with homelessness, substance use, and mental health problems by increasing the number of people getting and staying housed and reducing the number of days they spend in jail.
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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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Report
Community:
Sep 4, 2018
This series of papers provides an overview and framework for reaching out to stakeholders or potential partners from other sectors that may share your interest in collaborating and sharing data to improve community health. Knowing your audience will help your collaboration craft a successful and productive outreach strategy, strengthen your partnerships, and ensure ongoing sustainability by clearly defining and articulating the value of sharing data across sectors.

Authored by: Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH)
Topics: Criminal justice, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Medicaid / Medicare, Partnerships
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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Policy Brief
Community:
Jan 30, 2019
NLIHC stands ready to work with all members of Congress to seize the opportunity to address the full scope of affordable housing challenges for families with the greatest needs. In the memorandum below, we provide our recommendations on steps Congress can take—whether through an infrastructure spending package, the appropriations process, housing finance reform, or other legislative avenues—to make the critical investments in the affordable housing our nation needs to help the economy, our communities, children and families thrive.

Authored by: National Low Income Housing Coalition
Topics: Child welfare, Community development, Criminal justice, Funding, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Low-income, Mobility, Racial inequalities, Safety
Shared by Housing Is on Jan 30, 2019
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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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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
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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
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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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
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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
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Report
Community:
Jul 12, 2018
On June 7, 2016 CSH invited a diverse group of national experts from the housing, homeless prevention, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment, mental health, criminal justice and recovery fields for a special meeting on the topic of addiction recovery and housing. The primary goal of the convening was to engage participants in a thoughtful discussion around how CSH can work with our national and local partners to promote recovery in supportive housing and ensure that supportive housing is part of the continuum of recovery supports available for people living with addiction.

Authored by:
Topics: Criminal justice, Dual-eligibles, Health, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Mental health, Partnerships, Substance abuse, Supportive housing
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 12, 2018
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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.
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Report
Community:
Dec 6, 2017
It adds to the growing body of evidence that addressing homelessness saves money elsewhere.

Authored by: J.B. Wogan for Governing the States and Localities
Topics: Cost effectiveness, Criminal justice, Health, Healthy homes, Homelessness, Housing, Legislation & Policy, Place-based, Preventative care, Research, Stability, West Coast
Shared by Housing Is on Jul 5, 2018