Request for Applications for NASHP’s Second Health and Housing Institute – Due April 30, 2021
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the National Organizations of State and Local Officials (NOSLO) program, invites states to apply to its second Health and Housing Institute. The goal of the Institute is to break down inter-agency silos and strengthen services and supports to help low-income and vulnerable populations become and remain successfully housed.
With newly available American Rescue Plan resources, this is an opportune time for states to build capacity to address housing affordability, home- and community-based services, permanent supportive housing and other related topics.
States participating in institute will receive two years of targeted technical assistance to support the development and/or implementation of sustainable financing of health and housing programs. This may include guidance on how to equitably and efficiently allocate new federal resources to address an increase in housing instability and homelessness arising from COVID-19.
What States Will Gain
Institute participants will have access to facilitated peer learning opportunities, subject matter experts, and state-specific technical assistance. Participating states may also have the opportunity to shine a national spotlight on their work during NASHP’s annual state health policy conference in September, 2021. Institute activities include:
- Access to expert consultants from federal agencies and nationally recognized housing policy organizations;
- Quarterly individualized technical assistance calls;
- Quarterly state-to-state learning calls;
- Expense-paid, in-person meetings held in conjunction with the annual NASHP state health policy conference, when in-person meetings are held again; and
- An opportunity to be showcased in NASHP’s Housing and Health Resources page and a final report on institute activities featured prominently on the NASHP website.
State Teams
Teams must include:
- One person from senior Medicaid leadership;
- One person from senior state housing agency leadership; and
- [Optional] Others based on the state’s project focus. For example, public health, state education, transportation or social service agency representatives, other payers, Medicaid managed care organizations, state data analytics staff, legislators, local officials, community-based partner organizations, governors’ health policy advisors, and individuals with lived experience.
Each state team will be expected to:
- Maintain a core team of at least two members, including participants from the state’s Medicaid agency and a housing agency should have decision-making authority within their respective agencies. States are welcome to include additional team members.
- Develop a project plan and work toward accomplishing goals and actionable steps to achieve these goals.
- Participate in quarterly individual team technical assistance calls with NASHP staff to identify progress and barriers as well as identify any emerging technical assistance needs.
- Revise project plans as necessary to improve your state’s initiative during the two-year technical assistance period.
- Participate in group activities as planned, including the annual meetings and quarterly state-to-state learning calls.
To apply: Each state team must complete an Expression of Interest Form (linked above) and submit it to Allie Atkeson (aatkeson@oldsite.nashp.org) by COB on Friday, April 30, 2021.
More information: Any questions about the Health and Housing Institute application process should be directed to Allie Atkeson (aatkeson@oldsite.nashp.org).
Overview of Health and Housing Institute Opportunity
Evidence shows a strong association between access to safe, affordable, and stable housing and positive health outcomes. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, states moved to rapidly rehouse individuals in congregate and institutionalized settings to slow the spread of the virus. As rapid rehousing is a temporary solution, states identified a need to provide individuals with additional wraparound and supportive services to maintain housing.
States have the opportunity to shift investments from episodic emergency and institutional care to more sustainable community and supportive housing solutions. States can also capitalize on newly available federal resources through the American Rescue Plan and American Jobs Plan to support their efforts. Housing is an essential social determinant of health and there is a demonstrated need for equitable and targeted access for populations, such as those experiencing homelessness, housing instability, behavioral health needs, and chronic conditions and those transitioning out of institutions.
Through the institute, NASHP will work with state Medicaid and housing agencies and other state policymakers from five states to address the challenges of sustainably financing health and housing initiatives. Discussions will also address related challenges of measuring program outcomes, ensuring equitable access to housing-related services, demonstrating return on investment, collecting and sharing data among agencies and providers, and determining effective governance structures for cross-sector housing and health initiatives.
Acknowledgement: This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U2MOA394670100, National Organizations of State and Local Officials. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the US government.
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