Housing Prescriptions as Health Care

Background:

Housing insecurity is a known risk factor for negative child health and developmental
outcomes. The goal of this intervention is to reduce housing insecurity among families with
young children as a mechanism for improving child health and improving other predictors on
the pathway toward child health, including food security and maternal mental health status.

Rationale:

Children's HealthWatch data collected from 2010-2014 at Boston Medical Center, where the
sample for this project will be recruited, found 32% of families were behind on rent in the
past year and 7% of families moved more than twice in the past year. Previous research by
Children's HealthWatch links multiple moves with increased risks of fair or poor child health
and developmental delay. Families who are behind on rent are also at risk of fair or poor
health, developmental delays, and are below average in length/height, a marker for
under-nutrition. Given the significant associations between housing insecurity and child
health outcomes, this project is tailored to address challenges faced by families who are
severely housing insecure and who are classified as high health care utilizers by industry
standards (defined as ≥ 3 emergency department visits in one year).

This research study design for this pilot is a randomized control trial whereby eligible
families are randomly assigned to the intervention group or the control group. Those in the
intervention group will be referred to a case manager and receive at least one of the six
services offered through the program. Families in the control group will receive the current
standard of care, which is a packet of outreach resources with information on housing and
housing supports.

Purpose:

This study will investigate if this intervention is effective in improving housing stability
and child health outcomes compared to current standard of care.

Study hypotheses:

Using data collected at baseline, six months, and 12 months after enrollment, the
investigators will examine whether children ages 0-4, their siblings ages 0-11, and
caregivers in the intervention group, vs. those in the control group, are more likely to
have:

- Reduced score on housing insecurity assessment

- Reduced emergency department (ED) usage and hospitalizations for caregivers and children

- Improved adherence to well-child visits and immunization schedule

- Improved caregiver mental health, as defined by reduced depressive symptoms reported

- Increased family income and reduced reports of material hardships, including decreased
food insecurity, defined by the gold-standard USDA 18-item scale; decreased energy
insecurity, using the validated Children's HealthWatch screener; and decreased health
care hardships, using the Children's HealthWatch screener.

The investigators will also examine ultimate net cost vs. savings per consumer to implement
this Housing Prescription as Health Care program. Elements we will consider in economic
models include:

- Costs of delivery of the intervention

- Savings from avoided health care costs

- Savings from avoided homelessness

- Increased family income as a result of this intervention

Inclusion Criteria:

- Caregiver of family experiencing housing instability

- One or more family members in the household must have had >= 3 emergency room visits
in the past year or child with medical complexity enrolled in comprehensive clinical
case management program

- Caregiver of child <11 years, who receives primary care at Boston Medical Center

Exclusion Criteria:

- None of the members of the household have had >=3 emergency room visits in the past
year nor medically complex child enrolled in case management.

- Family in stable housing

- Index child not a primary care patient at Boston Medical Center

- All children in household >11 years