Why Affordable Housing is a Health Priority, Not Just a Policy Issue

Affordable housing isn’t just a social justice concern—it’s a healthcare imperative. Research shows that stable housing is one of the most powerful predictors of a person’s physical and mental health. That’s why Whole Person Care (WPC) programs across the U.S. and Canada are integrating housing support into health strategies.

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How Does Housing Affect Health?

• ‍Unstable housing leads to higher ER use, hospital stays, and medication non-adherence
• Homelessness worsens chronic illness, mental health conditions, and addiction risk.
• Without a fixed address, patients often fall through care gaps and fail to receive follow-up.

Bottom line: Without housing, healthcare doesn’t stick.

Case Studies: Housing as Healthcare in Action

Cook County, IL – Consent-Driven Housing Coordination

Chicago’s Community Information Exchange (CIE) uses a FHIR-based Consent Service Utility to link Medicaid data, HMIS (Homeless Management Information System), and behavioral health info.

• Enables real-time housing + care coordination
• Projected 25% reduction in ER use
• 40% increase in housing stability

Contra Costa County, CA – Housing First Model

WPC pilot reserved housing vouchers and embedded social workers in care teams.

• Tiered care coordination based on risk
• Integrated Epic EHR + “Care Everywhere” system
• Improved outcomes in housing + behavioral care

Los Angeles, CA – Whole-Person Care LA

Coordinated housing, behavioral, and physical health for chronically homeless residents.

• Resulted in more stable housing placements
• Reduced emergency service utilization
• Transitioned into broader CalAIM initiative

Why Health Systems Should Invest in Housing Support

1. Reduce avoidable costs
   Hospital stays and emergency visits cost more than providing housing support.
2. Improve health outcomes
   Stable housing leads to better medication adherence, diet, hygiene, and care access.
3. Enhance care coordination
   Housing data enables health teams to adjust plans, make referrals, and intervene early.
4. Achieve health equity
   Housing insecurity disproportionately impacts marginalized groups, amplifying disparities.

From Policy to Practice: Overcoming the Roadblocks

While the benefits are clear, real-world implementation faces barriers:

• ‍Landlord reluctance to accept high-needs tenants
• ‍Insufficient affordable housing stock in high-cost regions
• ‍Data sharing restrictions across health and housing systems
• ‍Staff burnout and limited care navigators to support housing referrals
• ‍Fragmented systems (HMIS, Medicaid, EHRs) don’t always integrate smoothly

FAQ: Housing and Health

Q: Can a hospital really help someone find housing?
Yes, through partnerships with housing authorities, social service agencies, and funding wraparound support, many WPC pilots have embedded housing services into care teams.

Q: Why is housing considered a healthcare issue?
Because safe, stable housing directly influences mental health, chronic disease management, and recovery. Without it, clinical interventions often fail.

Q: How can data sharing support housing as healthcare?
With tools like FHIR-based consent utilities, providers can coordinate with housing agencies while respecting privacy regulations like HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.

Conclusion: Treat the Root, Not Just the Symptoms

If we want to improve healthcare outcomes, we can’t ignore where people live. Affordable housing is the bedrock of well-being, and treating it as a health intervention is no longer optional.

Learn how IDENTOS enables ethical data sharing between healthcare and housing systems.

‍Download our white paper or speak with us about secure, consent-driven infrastructure for Whole Person Care.