Improve Public Policy

At the federal, state, and local levels, we identify and advance common-sense, nonpartisan, community-driven policy solutions that align housing with supportive services. Aligning these systems reduces costs, improves health, and strengthens communities. The Center helps housing and health partners understand critical policy issues and respond effectively to their impact.

Our Policy Areas

Improving Supportive Services

  • We help protect and increase funding for critical services like healthcare, behavioral health care, and housing-related supports. This funding helps ensure that people with complex needs, people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or people who are leaving carceral or other institutional settings, can access the resources they need to achieve stability and thrive.
  • We help partners and systems improve how services are delivered and how they connect with housing. By lowering barriers and improving quality, we make it easier for people to get the support they need in their communities instead of in institutions or emergency settings.

Maximizing Medicaid for Supportive Services

  • We work with states to develop, sustain, and expand Medicaid coverage of Home and Community Based Services, including housing related services.  These supports reduce costs, improve health, and ensure community integration.
  • We help states and communities use Medicaid more effectively to support people with complex care needs who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or living in supportive housing.
  • We work with states and communities to align Medicaid and housing policy with the goal of increasing efficacy and efficiency of systems.

Expanding and Preserving Affordable Housing with Healthcare and Supportive Services

  • We help protect existing affordable homes and create more deeply affordable, high‑quality housing that is linked to healthcare and supportive services.
  • We help partners align housing policy and health policy to ensure everyone has the housing and services they need to thrive.
  • We work to reduce barriers to stable housing and strengthen the links between housing and health.

New and Proven Innovations In Housing and Health Alignment

  • Featured Resource

    Summary of Medicaid Provisions in H.R.1

    One-pager on the Medicaid impact of H.R.1.

    Two coworkers smiling and looking at a laptop together in a modern office setting.

Policy Solution Highlights

Medicare insurance kit with papers, a stethoscope, and a calculator on a desk.

Expanding and Supporting Medicaid Coverage of Housing-Related Services

Medicaid-funded housing-related supports can be used to scale housing aligned with services and address health-related drivers of well-being of Medicaid members.

Four people stand smiling in front of the U.S. Capitol building on a cloudy day.

Supportive Services Transformation Fund (SSTF)

SSTF offers a blueprint for states to make it easier for people with complex care needs to access healthcare, behavioral care, and housing-related services.

H.R.1 and the Impact on Housing and Services

Support for housing and service providers in understanding and responding to H.R.1 (“One Big Beautiful Bill Act”), including around impacts on Medicaid eligibility, coverage, and requirements.

Recent Policy Work

More Resources

Advocacy Action at CSH

Stay Connected To The Center

Subscribe to hear from us on the latest resources, events, and articles on housing + health.