Housing & Homelessness
For nearly 50 years, HSRI has witnessed firsthand how deeply housing and health are connected. We’re tackling the housing crisis head-on and enhancing access to safe, affordable, and supportive housing.
Reclaiming housing as a human right
Having a safe, stable, and affordable place to live is crucial for our health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, access to housing is constantly under threat. With discriminatory practices like redlining, the placement of hazardous industrial buildings, and big investors purchasing affordable neighborhoods, many public and private decisions have made housing unstable for nearly everyone except the wealthy. We’re teaming up with policymakers, human service agencies, and community members to change this.
Expanding desirable community living options
Supportive community housing is a cornerstone of independent living for people with disabilities and people experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. Without the right services, staying stably housed can be really tough. That’s why we collaborate with federal, state, and local agencies to research, evaluate, and expand housing options that can help prevent evictions and homelessness. As people navigate financial, health, and social challenges during the housing crisis, our efforts also lead to more accessible and desirable housing for people from various income levels.
Bringing together community advocates for equitable housing
As we explore new ways to address housing needs fairly, we make sure to involve people with real-life experience in all our planning. We often kick things off with community listening sessions, traveling around to meet with local residents, community groups, and those who have firsthand experience with homelessness, housing insecurity, and disabilities. This way, we learn directly from those who know the local context best. Together, we work to make housing more affordable, reduce homelessness, and improve social services in a coordinated and effective way.
