Report

“The call for greater collaboration has been a persistent drumbeat in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors in recent years. The message is clear: The scale and complexity of the problems that the sectors seek to address require collaborative approaches. A go-it-alone mentality will not result in meaningful impact.”

“Cities nationwide are experiencing housing-related challenges, with a growing share of the population unable to afford to rent or own a home. Residents struggle to afford not just a place to live, but a stable home that supports their health and well-being. This paper explores the factors that contribute to affordable housing and health, including examples of successful strategies used by cities to generate and preserve healthy and affordable housing.”

This report summarizes the lessons learned from the Mayors’ Institute on Advancing Education and Health through a Community Schools Strategy in May 2017 hosted by the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Institute). The YEF Institute is committed to supporting “mayors and city leaders in developing effective strategies to ensure that all children and families develop the skills needed to thrive in the 21st Century workforce.”

“ASTHO envisions a health system of the 21st century that integrates public health, clinical care, social services, behavioral health, and other stakeholders to comprehensively address the root causes of poor health, ranging from lack of exercise, poor diet, lack of access to care, and other factors. Most determinants of our health affect us outside of doctors’ offices, which means the health sector in the future must work together closely to improve health and reduce costs. The white paper outlines ASTHO’s vision for an integrated health system in the future, and steps that can be taken today to achieve it.”

“Every day, decision-makers in the housing sector have the chance to consider health in their policies, programs, and projects to help mitigate pressing public health problems that take a massive toll on Americans’ quality of life and substantially increase health care costs for taxpayers. Understanding how to integrate public health considerations into housing decisions can positively impact the health of residents and ensure strong financial stewardship of public funds. This report begins by describing the connections between housing and health and then provides a systematic review of housing decisions that have been the subject of past HIAs. Next it provides guidance for conducting future housing HIAs. Finally, it provides a tutorial on the major housing programs as a means of helping public health professionals understand the links between housing programs and public health.”

“Access to safe, quality, affordable housing - and the supports necessary to maintain that housing - constitute one of the most basic and powerful social determinants of health. In particular, for individuals and families trapped in a cycle of crisis and housing instability due to extreme poverty, trauma, violence, mental illness, addiction or other chronic health conditions, housing can entirely dictate their health and health trajectory. For these populations, housing is a necessary precursor of health. Supportive Housing is increasingly recognized as a cost-effective health intervention for homeless and other extremely vulnerable populations.”

“The report first explores the way in which housing can affect the lives and success of individuals, and how the effect varies for different segments of the population. The report then investigates the obstacles to housing functioning as a hub, from the difficulties of developing good data on the impact of housing-based strategies to shortcomings in the business models available for these strategies. Finally, we lay out a set of recommendations designed to strengthen the role of housing as a social determinant for health and success.”

“Developed in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this report presents a framework for companies to take a holistic approach to their impact on health of employees, families, and communities. It includes 16 Smart Business Practices that influence key health determinants as well as have a positive impact on health and business outcomes.”