Catholic Charities panel explores links between housing and health

The COVID-19 pandemic “added a healthcare crisis on top of a housing crisis, and the only way to truly solve either is going to require bold investments and innovations in both,” said Michael Goar, Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ CEO, ahead of the social services organizations’ annual social justice assembly March 1.

This year’s event, “Rx: Housing — The Critical Relationship Between Housing and Health,” explored the connection between those two issues, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to these links with a new sense of urgency and focus, underscoring just how important housing is to health, and vice versa.

Michael Goar

Dr. Danielle Robertshaw, senior medical director of population health at Hennepin Healthcare, moderated the event. Panelists were Brian Bozeman, owner of Person Centered Housing Consultants; David Lee, director for Carlton County Public Health and Human Services; and Diane Tran, system executive director of community health equity and engagement at Fairview Health Services. The event was sponsored by Minnetonka-based United HealthGroup.

“Without adequate housing for people in our communities, we are ill equipped to be successful in our attempts to promote health, safety, dignity, and self-sufficiency,” Lee said. “Whether we’re working with vulnerable adults, people with mental health or substance use disorders, individuals with disabilities, dealing with child protection situations, or working to transition people out of the justice system, housing limitations have led to a reduction in successful outcomes.”

Lee said that lack of adequate housing has been identified as one of the top three health issues for Minnesota communities, as reflected in Carlton County’s most recent Community Health Assessment, as well as data from multiple sources, including the Minnesota Child Welfare report, Bridge To Health surveys, Minnesota Health Statistics and the Minnesota Student Survey.

“Community leaders in our area have identified lack of affordable housing to be anywhere from a moderate to severe problem,” Lee said. “It’s hard to be healthy when you have no safe, predictable place for your food, medicine, belongings, and not having some sense of control over your environment. Unfortunately, we see the lack of housing negatively impact the health of our communities every day.”

Other panelists pointed out that ongoing health concerns make it difficult for people to maintain regular employment. They may miss work or take unpaid medical leave. Once someone is homeless, existing health issues can worsen, making it difficult to regain employment.

“We do need to take a broader view and know that it is our obligation and responsibility to think holistically because housing is one of those social determinants of health, and it’s key to who we are as people and how we feel supported and connected to our communities,” Robertshaw said.

Catholic Charities is the Twin Cities’ largest comprehensive social service nonprofit. It serves more than 20,000 people each year.

With the current legislative session underway, the organization is promoting a policy agenda that builds on recent successes and grows statewide partnerships to advance housing justice and health equity policies, Goar told The Catholic Spirit Feb. 28.

That means prioritizing ongoing and increased public investments in emergency shelter services, and “deeply affordable” and accessible housing, reforming eviction processes and removing discriminatory practices in housing, and ensuring all Minnesotans have access to comprehensive and affordable health care, including mental health services, he said.

Last year, Catholic Charities successfully advocated for a change in the state’s Department of Human Services policy, when the Minnesota Legislature voted to extend the period Housing Support participants could be absent from their facility while seeking residential behavioral health treatment or admission to a nursing facility or hospital. Prior to the change it was 18 days per year, now it’s 92.

“Imagine a tenant requiring hospitalization for a chronic medical condition or illnesses like COVID-19, or for longer-term substance, mental health, or inpatient treatment. It meant that many were facing the difficult decision of choosing between housing and health,” said Michael Rios-Keating, social justice education manager at Catholic Charities, during the March 1 event. “During the last legislative session, Catholic Charities worked with lawmakers to introduce legislation that would waive the existing 18-day absence limit for housing support recipients who were in need of health care treatment. That bill had overwhelming bipartisan support and was backed by cross sector leaders.”

The Catholic faith calls for reflection on how issues that affect the poor and vulnerable intersect with Catholic teachings on the preferential option for the poor, Goar said.

“Catholics can educate themselves and advocate for greater access to comprehensive, affordable healthcare and for increased public investments along the full housing continuum, from emergency shelter to rental opportunities to homeownership,” he said. “As people of faith, I think it is important also that we share these issues and conversations with our families, our parish, and our community.”