HUD, HHS Collaborate to Address Housing as Driver of Health Outcomes

Identifying housing as a key driver of health outcomes, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are collaborating under a new U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health. 

HHS has also announced a new Medicaid and CHIP Health-Related Social Needs (HRSNs) Framework to help states support clinically appropriate and evidence-based interventions to support housing and nutrition needs for certain Medicaid enrollees, such as by providing medically tailored meals to pregnant and postpartum women, or helping individuals with chronic health conditions who are experiencing homelessness to find and obtain housing. Medicaid services provided under this Framework will complement existing HUD programs, including Housing Choice Vouchers and homelessness assistance grants. 

Through the HHS and HUD Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC), HUD will continue to provide information to states and communities on how to better leverage Medicaid to cover housing-related HRSNs and coordinate these services with HUD’s programs. 

The HSRC is operated in partnership by HHS, HUD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Within HHS, the partnership is led by the Administration for Community Living and includes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Administration for Children and Families, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). The Health Resources and Services Administration also is supporting complementary efforts to fund technical assistance to states to support the development and implementation of sustainable financing of health and housing programs.

Earlier this month, HUD and HHS announced they will select up to four states to receive federal technical assistance through the Housing and Services Partnerships Accelerator to help implement Medicaid housing-related HRSNs in coordination with HUD and state and local housing programs.

The Accelerator will support states with Medicaid programs working to expand innovative housing-related supports and services through section 1115 demonstrations for people with disabilities and older adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. In particular, the Accelerator will bring together interdisciplinary teams from four states to tackle common issues, such as navigating payment models and rates, data integration and sharing, and more.

“Housing is foundational to health and lifelong success. Today’s Playbook and suite of actions are important steps forward in our efforts to advance health equity,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge, in a statement. “HUD continues to work with our partners across the Administration and the country to coordinate the housing, healthcare, and supportive services that enable Americans to thrive. I encourage HUD grantees and partners to utilize the Playbook to inform their work and engagement.”