A survey of the programs taking a proactive approach to the role of housing in health outcomes, and a call for more collaboration between the housing and healthcare industries
An article by Aaron Shroyer proceeds from the knowledge that "[h]ousing is one of the underlying and critical components of these social determinants of health," and begins to lay out a medical framework for diagnosing problems with housing and writing a prescription to address those problems.
"With evidence building about the inextricable ties between housing and health, some programmatic changes and ideas are emerging that resemble a policy prescription," writes Shoyer, before listing some of the best examples already in use around the United States. For example, and with more detail in the source article:
- Health impact assessments
- Allowing states to use medicaid dollars to support housing-related health programs
- The US Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) initiative to end veteran homelessness, including "the US Department of Housing and Urban Development VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher program, which allows veterans to access permanent housing and other services to address their needs."
Finally, Shoyer ends with a provocative question meant to reframe out understanding of how housing challenges can better served by the medical profession: "What if all medical professionals—not just VA doctors—could be empowered to ask about housing conditions and provide resources to address those problems?"
FULL STORY: Writing a Prescription for Housing
Maryland Assistance Program Links Housing and Healthcare
The state will begin funding an existing program that targets the healthcare needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
California Lawmakers Seek to Fund Sober Housing
A 2016 law prohibits state-funded supportive housing from mandating sobriety, but supporters of a proposed bill say a new approach is needed in light of the opioid crisis.
Study: How a ‘Housing First’ Approach Impacts Healthcare Access
An analysis from Denver shows that unhoused people receiving services based on a Housing First approach were more likely to access psychiatric care and had fewer emergency medical visits.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.
Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.
Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
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