Salem, Oregon – The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has started providing housing-related benefits to qualified Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members with specific medical conditions in a new approach to handle the relationship of housing instability and health. This first-of-its-kind project helps people keep their current homes and have access to basic utilities. Specifically for Oregon’s underprivileged communities, it marks a significant change in the way social needs and healthcare intertwine.
Especially for people dealing with health issues, the additional benefits include a spectrum of supportive services meant to guarantee stable living conditions. Qualified OHP members may get up to six months of rent aid and assistance with utility bills including setup and continuous payments. Also, qualified participants can receive home upgrades for safety or health enhancement including ramps, grab bars, or pest treatment. These advantages differ since they offer a proactive approach to housing security by being sought before an eviction notice is received.
Only OHP members with specific requirements qualify for these benefits, therefore guaranteeing that resources reach those most in need. Candidates include people with developmental or intellectual disabilities, complicated physical or behavioral health problems, or difficulties with everyday activities and self-care. Those under six years old, who have suffered abuse or neglect, are currently pregnant, or have recently given birth could also be qualified. Furthermore, individuals over 65 or those who have had frequent emergency room visits are included in the eligibility criteria.
OHA Director Dr. Sejal Hathi claims that the project shows the state’s understanding that housing instability is closely related to disparities in health care.
“Oregon’s health inequities are inextricably linked to our state’s housing crisis. Individuals and families who become homeless face a significantly higher risk of mortality and higher rates of behavioral and physical health conditions – even as they report poorer access to care. These Medicaid benefits can help stop that cycle and, in a model for the rest of the country, make it possible for Oregonians to maintain their current housing, connect with providers and access additional resources that support their well-being.”
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Oregon was given permission to explore how attending to social necessities like housing can affect general health outcomes within a bigger federal trial. While other states have experimented with similar benefits, Oregon’s statewide Medicaid benefit—rent assistance—is a national first and marks a new age of integrated health and housing support.
“Housing plays a pivotal role in our physical and mental wellbeing. And yet, so many of our neighbors are living paycheck to paycheck, where an unexpected issue can lead to a loss of income and loss of a home,” said Emma Sandoe, Medicaid Director at Oregon Health Authority. “These benefits are one more tool to keep Oregonians housed during short-term disruptions and prevent negative health outcomes of homelessness.”
About 22% of Oregon’s renters belong to the very low-income category; their average household income is $30,560. Adults experiencing housing instability deal with a variety of health issues and are 19% more likely not to have a primary care physician. They also are 35% more likely to put off preventative medical treatment, which over time can aggravate chronic illnesses. Losing secure home can aggravate physical and mental health problems as well as provide significant obstacles to obtaining food, medications, and necessary treatment. It goes beyond simple inconvenience.
Housing providers will be aggressively contacting qualified members and delivering these incentives starting this month. OHA has hired companies across the state to oversee housing assistance services; processing timelines will vary depending on demand and the specific capacities of coordinated care organizations (CCOs) and housing providers. Depending on availability and service provider capacity, after an application is turned in it could take up to two weeks for evaluation and then more time to give the benefit. OHA is expanding partnerships with CCOs to increase the program’s reach over the coming year.
The housing benefits rollout is one of several health-related social needs programs introduced by OHA as part of its strategy to eliminate health inequities by 2030. Launched in March, the state’s recent climate benefits include air conditioners, air filters, and other tools meant to assist OHP members in mitigating medical risks linked with severe weather. OHP will offer nutrition benefits for qualified members in January 2025 to help with food poverty, a major issue influencing long-term health.
Those OHP members interested in these housing benefits are advised to confirm their eligibility and apply by contacting their health plan, doctor, or local community partner. Support is provided for customers on an Open Card plan via the dedicated hotline or email. Through 211, the OHA also provides services for people without stable homes, therefore ensuring that even the homeless have a route to help.
OHP members may visit the official housing benefits page of the Oregon Health Authority for more information on the new housing benefits. This program emphasizes the necessity of stability and safety as foundations for health since it marks an important shift toward responding to all of the needs of Oregonians.
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