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
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