Housing is Health, a housing navigation program created by the four Milwaukee health system members of the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership (MHCP)–Aurora Health Care, Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, and Froedtert Health—is both creating local impact and influencing new housing navigation policy state-wide.
 
It is well established that housing is one of the most significant social drivers of health and the most complex and expensive social resource to navigate and secure for patients. The Housing is Health program works in collaboration with Milwaukee County Housing Services and IMPACT Coordinated Entry to screen and refer homeless/vulnerably housed patients receiving ER or inpatient care at Milwaukee’s health systems for housing support. Navigators then help patients secure temporary housing, provide case management, secure supportive services, and aid in their transition to permanent housing.
 
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), leveraging the success, learnings, and staff support of the Housing is Health Program, established a new benefit through the Children’s Health Insurance Program Health Services Initiative (CHIP), to provide housing support (housing navigation, transitional, relocation, and sustaining support) to low-income families across Wisconsin. This initiative led to new housing resources in Milwaukee and other communities throughout the state for families with children under 18 and pregnant individuals who are living below 200% FPL and experiencing homelessness (or are at imminent risk).

Informing state and local health care policies, programs, and payment reforms is a shared priority of the MHCP and its health system members. The health systems look forward to integrating this new support into current local housing navigation structures and exploring additional avenues for reimbursable navigation support.
 
Since 2019, Housing is Health has connected 322 patients to temporary housing and facilitated permanent housing for 262 patients across all care settings.
 
Current funding for the program is provided by the Milwaukee-based health systems via their MHCP Shared Community Investment Fund.