Prescribing Housing: A Scoping Review of Health System Efforts to Address Housing as a Social Determinant of Health

Popul Health Manag. 2021 Jun;24(3):316-321. doi: 10.1089/pop.2020.0154. Epub 2020 Aug 17.

Abstract

US health systems have begun to address housing instability within a larger effort to address social determinants of health. To explore existing themes within efforts by health systems to reduce housing instability and improve health, the authors conducted a scoping review supplemented with key informant interviews. Twenty-two articles were analyzed and 7 participants from 6 health systems were interviewed. Themes identified from the literature and interviews included intervention strategies and funding, access, coordination, and administrative processes and evaluation. As more health systems integrate housing-related interventions, findings from this study highlight the need for more upstream focus, consistent funding, and reliable evaluation strategies.

Keywords: health systems; housing; housing instability; population health; public health; social determinants of health.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Housing*
  • Humans
  • Social Determinants of Health*