Supportive housing links housing with on-site services such as tenancy support, employment assistance, and medical and behavioral health care. Permanent supportive housing is a cost-effective way to improve health outcomes and address issues that may have contributed to homelessness in the first place. Supportive housing is a “but for” health intervention: but for housing, people would not receive services, and but for services, they would not maintain stable housing.

Roughly 5% of patients account for 50% of health care costs. These patients’ high costs come from frequent emergency room visits and hospital stays. Some have untreated mental illnesses or substance use disorders, and regular interactions with law enforcement are also common. Often, these people are homeless or don’t have stable housing, making effective treatment and recovery more difficult. A safe place to live paired with supportive services improves health outcomes and reduces the need for high-cost emergency services.