141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

283456
Designated housing regulations and health: Implications for low-income disabled and elderly americans

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Marjory Givens, PhD, MSPH , Health Impact Project, Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC
Aaron Wernham, MD, MS , Director, Health Impact Project, Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC
Keshia Pollack, PhD, MPH , Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Saqi Maleque Cho, MSPH , Health Impact Project, Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC
Bethany Rogerson, MS , Health Impact Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC
Recently, there have been transformational changes in the infrastructures and systems that provide long-term care and supportive services to elderly and disabled Americans, driven by efforts to provide these services in home- and community-based settings rather than institutions. Subsidized rental housing tied to supportive services has been viewed as a potential platform for successful community integration and the opportunity to “age in place”.

Stemming from work through the National Prevention Council, and in conversation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, we conducted a health impact assessment (HIA) of how changes to existing regulations permitting the designation of public rental housing as elderly, disabled, or a mix thereof could affect the health of low-income, eligible populations. Our assessment approach included a systematic literature review of the evidence base linking supportive housing and health, quantitative analyses of housing administrative data sets, and stakeholder engagement including an Advisory Committee, public housing resident focus groups, and key informant interviews with Public Housing Agencies (PHAs).

Synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data, we will present findings on the potential impact of a rule change on the alignment of public housing stock with population need among low-income elderly or disabled individuals, and associated health outcomes (e.g., chronic diseases, mental health, injury) or healthcare costs of service provision outside of institutions. We will also discuss the possible implications for local PHA allocation planning, administration or housing management, and the possible linkage to community health and social service supports for designated housing populations, particularly disabled individuals.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe federal designated housing policy and the practical challenges experienced in piloting Health Impact Assessment (HIA) on federal housing policy. Discuss the opportunities for providing long-term, community-based care to low-income elderly or disabled individuals with public rental housing as a platform for supportive services. Explain the connections between affordable rental housing, supportive services and health, particularly for elderly and disabled individuals.

Keywords: Housing, Community-Based Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: For over 3 years, I have been working to build capacity for and implement health impact assessments (HIA) of decisions that can affect the health and well-being of the population. My graduate training in biomedical sciences, environmental health and epidemiology and professional experiences as a public health practitioner have been instrumental to the advancement of my work as an emerging practitioner in the field of HIA.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.