Applications to NASHP’s Health and Housing Institute are due February 13, 2024. To apply, complete the application form and submit it to Ella Roth (eroth@nashp.org).
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will convene states for a third Health and Housing Institute.
States participating in NASHP’s Health and Housing Institute (HHI) will receive two years of targeted technical assistance to support the development, implementation, and/or alignment of health and housing programs. The purpose of the HHI is to support states pursuing cross-agency and federal-state-local strategies to increase access to safe, affordable housing and wrap-around services and supports for people who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Through the HHI, NASHP will work with state teams including Medicaid, housing, health and human services, aging and disability, and behavioral health agencies and other state policymakers from five states to build and implement individual state plans and provide robust peer-learning opportunities. Technical assistance will focus on aligning data strategies, braiding and blending resources across health and housing partners (including by leveraging Medicaid options), measuring program outcomes, and determining effective governance structures for cross-sector housing and health initiatives, among other topics.
In partnership with HRSA, NASHP’s HHI will collaborate with the Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator (HSPA) program via joint multi-state convenings, mutually available resources, and/or coordinated technical assistance (Please note: The HHI, while aligned with the HSPA, will not necessarily have the same focus on aging and disabled populations and will ask states to self-select their goals and priority populations). NASHP will continue its practice of convening federal agency partners in an advisory capacity for the HHI to inform state participants of new and emerging federal guidance, priorities, and opportunities, and to share state perspectives with federal leaders.
In addition, NASHP’s third HHI will draw on lessons learned from the previous two cohorts: HHI 1 (2018–2020 cohort: Illinois, Louisiana, New York, Oregon and Texas) and HHI 2 (2021–2023 cohort: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Virginia), and the HRSA-supported Health and Housing Resource Center.
Health and Housing Institute Timeline
- Tuesday, December 19, 2023: Application form released
- Monday, January 8, 2024 at 12 p.m. ET/ 9 a.m. PT: Informational webinar
- Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT: Informational webinar
- Tuesday, February 13, 2024: Application forms due to NASHP
- Monday, February 19, 2024: Selected state teams notified
- February 2024: Institute kick-off
- February 2024–February 2026: Individual state technical assistance, convenings, multi-state learning calls, and webinars
Application and Selection Process
- Each state team must complete an application form and submit it to Ella Roth (eroth@nashp.org) by Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT Note: For states that submitted an application to the HSPA program, you may submit that application along with a cover letter addressing any amendments the state would like to make to the application. (For example, HHI applicants are encouraged to focus on priority populations that align with their states’ overall goals).
- NASHP will review states’ application forms and select states to participate in the HHI. All states that applied will receive notifications the week of February 19, 2024.
Any questions about the HHI application process should be directed to Ella Roth (eroth@nashp.org).
What Will States Gain during the Institute?
HHI participants will have access to:
- Facilitated peer learning opportunities
- National, state, and local subject matter experts
- State-specific technical assistance
Participating states also will have the opportunity to align with states receiving technical assistance through the HSPA program (via cross-pollination of best practices, resources, and peer-learning opportunities).
HHI activities will include:
- Access to expert consultation
- Monthly individualized technical assistance calls
- Quarterly state-to-state learning calls
- Expenses-paid, in-person convenings
Individual Technical Assistance
Monthly individual state team calls will be held with each state to develop and execute on a workplan tailored to the state’s health and housing goals. States will have the opportunity during these calls to identify and address emerging technical assistance needs. States will have ongoing access to NASHP staff and consultants who will provide a timely and actionable response to all inquiries, including referrals to external experts when necessary to support initiative planning, development, and implementation. Participating state teams will have the opportunity to work with these experts remotely through conference calls or video meetings.
Possible technical assistance topics include but are not limited to:
- Strategies to inform and foster cross-agency collaboration to implement a whole-of-government approach to addressing health and housing priorities
- Fostering integration among, and sustainable partnerships with, key health and housing entities (such as Health Centers, Continuums of Care, Public Housing Authorities)
- Leveraging state Medicaid transformation and value-based purchasing initiatives to support health and housing priorities, focusing on Medicaid state plan amendments, managed care, 1115 and 1915(i) waivers, and other transformation initiatives
- Implementing such Medicaid transformation approaches in the context of resource alignment with other health and housing partner(s)
- Data strategies including using data to identify target populations and service needs, sharing data across agencies and providers, using data to implement programs and evaluate outcomes, and testing new models for tenancy support services and housing referrals
- Spurring capital investment strategies for healthy affordable housing
State-to-State Learning Calls
State-to-state learning calls will include quarterly group virtual learning opportunities each project year. These learning opportunities will allow states to hear about work going on in other states, identify areas of shared need, discuss emerging challenges, and receive expert technical assistance. Topics for each group learning opportunity will be developed collaboratively to meet priority technical assistance needs identified by participating states. NASHP is supporting a growing group of states implementing health and housing programs, including from past cohorts of HHI, and there will be opportunities for the states participating in the HHI to engage with this larger peer learning community.
Annual Meetings
Participating state teams will be invited to attend in-person annual meetings that will provide an additional opportunity for shared learning and state to state discussion. Annual meetings will take place during each project year (exact time and location are to be determined). Up to three core team members are expected to attend in person, and funding will be available to cover associated travel and meeting expenses. State teams may bring additional members at their own expense.
Expectations of Participation
By committing to this initiative, each state team will be expected to:
- Maintain a core team of state officials with decision-making authority from the state’s Medicaid agency, housing agency, and relevant health and human services and any other agencies required to implement the state’s goals. States are welcome to have additional team members representing state agencies (see below).
- Develop a project plan and work toward accomplishing goals and actionable steps to achieve these goals.
- Participate in monthly individual team technical assistance calls with NASHP staff to further implementation, share opportunities and barriers, and identify any emerging technical assistance needs.
- Participate in multi-state convenings (in person and virtual).
State Teams
Teams must include:
- At least one team member from senior Medicaid leadership
- At least one team member from senior housing agency leadership
- At least one team member with decision-making authority that represents other agencies with resources and/ or programs relevant to the state goals (for example, behavioral health, rural health, veterans services, public health, aging and disability, children and family, etc.)
- [Optional] Others based on state’s project focus (for example, Governor’s office, Secretary or Director of HHS, data analytics, corrections, community/economic development, and/or state legislature).
Interested state teams should complete and submit an application by February 13, 2024. Accepted state teams will be notified the week of February 19th, 2024. Email questions to Ella Roth at eroth@nashp.org.
