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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
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The Five Most-Changed American Cities
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San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.
Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
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