Addressing the Opioid Crisis Series - Session #1 New Resource and Stakeholder Engagement to Influence Practice

Session 1 in the Addressing the Opioid Crisis Webinar Series - Adequately serving patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and/or behavioral health needs requires proper coordination and partnership among multiple sectors and systems of social service. This webinar and facilitated panel discussion outlines new resources and approaches for new stakeholder engagement to better serve patients with SUD.

Featured Image

Health System Investments in Housing: A Development Guide

Our new guidebook Health System Investments in Housing: A Development Guide, written for hospital executives and health system leaders, explores why and how health systems and hospitals can and should invest in supportive and affordable housing.

It has been well established that housing is one of if not the most important Social Determinant of Health. This guide will help healthcare leaders to understand the housing landscape, particularly supportive housing for medically vulnerable populations, and how their institutions can engage in this important work.

Part two of the guide is an introduction to Housing Finance and Development for health partners motivated to learn more about the steps needed to put you in the position to take concrete action to invest in or develop housing.

The guide also offers snapshots of communities leading the way in innovative health care partnerships with local government and community in:

  • New Jersey: New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s Hospital Subsidy Partnership Program
  • Chicago and Cook County, IL: Cook County Center for Housing and Health Flexible Housing Pool (FHP)
  • Portland, Oregon: Central City Concern
  • Los Angeles, CA: Housing For Health – Flexible Subsidy Housing Pool (FSHP)

Please read and share, particularly with healthcare professionals such as population health teams, community health programs, community benefits leaders, fiscal officers, and innovation leaders.

CSH was able to develop this guidebook thanks to the generous support of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.

Health System Investments in Housing: A Development Guide

This guidebook explores why and how health systems and hospitals can and should invest in supportive and affordable housing.

Part One is intended to help health professionals understand what investing in housing looks like and how it can benefit the local community. By examining the key benefits of investing in housing and different examples of investment opportunities across the country, health professionals will be able to make the case for addressing housing as an essential social determinant of health.

Part Two is a 101 Level Guide to Housing Finance and Development for health partners motivated to learn more about the process and get step-by-step instruction on the “how,” this section covers the steps needed to put you in the position to take concrete action.

Telehealth for Supportive Housing Providers

Guidance for Providers Looking to Adapt and Consider Billing for Themselves

Some supportive housing providers are already billing Medicaid, while others are considering shifting services to Medicaid billing options. In both scenarios, the supportive housing field needs to consider both how to offer tenancy support services in a manner that considers our current public health emergency, as well as connecting their tenants to health care services that may be transitioning to more telehealth and telemedicine options. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), due to the national emergency and the public health emergency has granted states great flexibility in implementing, billing and maintaining telehealth options. COVID-19 has made connecting residents, especially vulnerable residents to telehealth even more important.

The challenges and rewards of billing Medicaid for services remain and telehealth is no different. As for other services, providers will still need an electronic health record, adhere to state administrative regulations around staffing, develop contracts with managed care organizations or the state, and develop budgets based upon projected billable revenue.

This brief provides definitions and resources to help supportive housing providers and Health Centers build their capacity and knowledge on how to speak the same language, collaborate effectively and leverage telehealth resources to support their service participants. Please refer to Telehealth Basics for guidance on residents and technology options. Each state will have its own regulations and guidance around telehealth and each provider will need to understand and follow state guidance.

This is part of a series of factsheets for Health Centers. You might also consider downloading:


This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $450,000 with 0% of the total NCA project financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov

Supporting Tenants During COVID-19 Using Technology-Based Strategies

Due to COVID-19, stay in place and social distancing protocols, supportive housing providers have been utilizing technology to stay connected and support tenants during this difficult time. In the context of remaining socially distant and preventing greater spread of COVID-19, supportive housing providers can use telephone, smart phone or other technology options to give the best possible support to their tenants.

Technology can be used as a complement to faceto-face services, and also as a service on its own. Technology options can be especially useful for people with depression or suffering from distress, and when there are difficulties in physically meeting with tenants. The most important feature of any communication is the quality of the relationship between the tenant and the case manager. Tenant choice and public health concerns for staff and tenants need to be balanced as the world adapts to COVID-19.

This fact sheet provides Tips for Using Technology to Support Tenants in Supportive Housing.

This is part of a series of factsheets for Health Centers. You might also consider downloading:


This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $450,000 with 0% of the total NCA project financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov

Telehealth Basics for Supportive Housing Providers and their Health Center Partners

Guidance for Providers Looking to Support Residents Getting Connected to Telehealth

This brief considers the basics regarding telehealth for collaborations between health centers and the supportive housing field to consider as they adapt to provide services in a manner that protects both the client and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provides definitions and resources to help supportive housing providers and health centers build their capacity and knowledge on how to speak the same language, collaborate effectively and leverage telehealth resources to support their service participants.

This is part of a series of factsheets for Health Centers. You might also consider downloading:


This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $450,000 with 0% of the total NCA project financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov

Centering Equity in Health and Housing Partnerships in Times of Crisis and Beyond

This paper addresses how health centers, other health system providers, and housing partners can center considerations of equity in their shared work to address the needs of people most impacted by structural racism and its impact on health and social determinants of health, including Black people, people of color, and Indigenous people.

For suggestions on specific partnership structures and activities health and housing partners can conduct together, please see Addressing Health Equity Through Health and Housing Partnerships, released by CSH and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council in 2019.  

This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $450,000 with 0% of the total NCA project financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

COVID-19: A Framework for Health and Housing Partnership During the Pandemic

Community responses to the COVID-19 pandemic like shelter-in-place, quarantine, testing, and management of strained health resources have elevated the necessity and value of effective health and housing partnerships to address the needs of vulnerable populations. This brief highlights strategies for health centers, housing, and community service providers in leveraging partnerships to address a range of health and housing needs both during, and after the COVID-19 crisis subsides.

Featured Image

Renting 101, A Guide to Successful Apartment Living

While this guide was developed for a San Diego based audience, the guidance can be tailored to any community.

Through a collaboration between CSH and the Southern California Rental Housing Association (SoCalRHA), a helpful new resource is now available to guide new or returning renters through the often confusing and sometimes overwhelming process of leasing a home and remaining safely and stably housed for many years.  

The combination of quality housing and support services (supportive housing) provides the stability and support many people need to thrive. Available in both English and Spanish, Renting 101, A Guide to Successful Apartment Living provides tips, suggestions and recommendations intended to help anyone transition from a variety of circumstances to living in affordable/supportive housing.

The impetus for this guide was born out of a partnership between CSH and the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services' advisory Housing Council. As part of its annual work plan, the Housing Council prioritized enhancing informational and educational housing resource materials to help lower income and/or disabled residents and persons rehousing after experiencing homelessness with finding, leasing and then successfully retaining safe, healthy rental housing.


Here is a sampling of quick tips you will find in this Renting 101 guide:

  • Living in close proximity to others in an apartment setting often requires drawing on social skills, tolerance, and discipline to create a positive experience.
  • Respect the rights of others.
  • Keep your apartment clean.
  • Establish communication and a good working relationship with the landlord or property manager.
  • If you have questions about your lease, talk with your property manager.
  • Be a good neighbor.

A special thanks to SoCalRHA for their work on this guide, and their partnership in this educational effort.

About SoCalHRA & CSH

SoCalRHA is the leading trade association serving the rental housing industry in Southern California. The Association provides education and advocacy to individuals and companies who own, manage or provide services to the rental housing industry, and has been doing so for nearly 100 years. CSH has been working for nearly 30 years to advance solutions that use housing as a platform for services to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people, maximize public resources and build healthy communities. The two organizations are a natural to partner in developing a guide that helps build a healthy tenant-landlord relationship and teach others how to be successful renters.

Renting 101

A Renters Guide for Successful Apartment Living

This guide is for anyone who will be renting an apartment for the first time. The information here is intended to make the transition to this new lifestyle easier. In this guide book you will find helpful tips on apartment living like housekeeping issues, keys to a successful relationship with your landlord and other resources.

Esta guía también está disponible en español aquí.

WordPress › Error

There has been a critical error on this website.

Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.