April 16. 2014
Çortlanb (Observer
Page 5
Stable Housing Improves Health Care
Study gives weight to ‘housing first’ model
A recent study of residents at The Apart
ments at Bud Clark Commons indicates a
direct relationship between stable housing
and both the reduction in health care costs
and in improved health care outcomes for
Medicaid members.
The study, conducted by the Center for
Outcomes Research and Education at Provi
dence Portland Medical Center on behalf of
Health Share of Oregon and Home Forward,
found that health care costs, including emer
gency room visits and hospitalizations, fell
by over 50 percent in the first six months after
a resident moved into stable housing, and
continued to dip in the second and third
years after moving in. Concurrently, resi
dents reported significant reductions in
unmet needs for physical and mental health
care and better health overall.
The study, which was based on resident
surveys and health care utilization data, in
cluded 99 of the 130 residents at The Apart
ments at Bud Clark Commons, a permanent
supportive housing building in downtown
Portland which serves residents who have
been experiencing homelessness and com
plex health issues.
Results showed that in the year before
they moved into BCC, residents on Medicaid
averaged total health care costs of $2,006 per
month, or 4.4 times higher than the average
adult Medicaid member. In the year after
moving in, average costs were $899per month,
a 55 percent decline.
"The results of this study reinforce what
we already know about what impacts an
individual's health outcomes," noted Janet
Meyer, chief executive officer of Health Share
of Oregon. "You can't begin to help someone
get their chronic health conditions under
control when they're living in a doorway or
under a bridge. Stable housing, along with
other social determinants such as adequate
food and transportation, is critical in improv
ing outcomes by helping to manage chronic
health conditions."
The study indicates the average resident
saw a reduction of over $13,000 in annual
claims, which is an amount greater than the
estimated $11,600 to house a resident at Bud
Clark. Additionally, the reduction in claims
was maintained into and beyond the second
year of their residency, suggesting that sup
portive housing has an ongoing impact on
health care costs.
Residents also reported significant de
clines in unmet health care needs, as well as
improvements in their own physical and
mental health after moving to the housing
complex.
"The Apartments at Bud Clark Commons
pair housing and health care to provide some
of the most vulnerable residents in our com
munity with a good place to call home. We're
very pleased that the research results dem
onstrate the value of this innovative model,"
said Steve Rudman, executive director, Home
Forward.
"This demonstrates that our investments
in a ffo rd a b le h o u sin g and en d in g
homelessness are key to reducing health
care costs and improving health outcomes in
our community. Housing is health care. We're
proud to partner in this work," said Traci
Manning, director, Portland Housing Bu
reau.
A survey of residents at the Apartments at Bud Clark Commons, a new perma
nent supportive housing building in downtown Portland, shows a 55 percent
reduction in health care costs when individuals have stable housing and access
to health care services.
NMHI
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