How Stable Housing Is the Missing Piece in Healthcare

Date

02.08.25

What if the most powerful prescription for better health wasn’t a pill—but a key?

At Integrated Healthcare System (IHCS), we believe housing is healthcare. For people experiencing chronic homelessness, a safe place to live is the first step toward stability, recovery, and dignity.

In this blog, discover how our Permanent Supportive Housing programs—like Bella House, Phoenix Place, and Dignity Village—help people rebuild their lives with both shelter and compassionate, integrated care.

Why Housing Is the First Step to Healing

Being unhoused isn’t just a housing issue—it’s a health crisis.

Without a stable home, it’s nearly impossible to manage chronic conditions, recover from illness, or maintain mental health. Imagine trying to:

Heal from surgery while sleeping on the street

Store essential medications without refrigeration

Get to appointments without reliable transportation

The stress of homelessness makes physical and mental illness worse. That’s why the cycle of ER visits, missed treatments, and relapses continues—until housing is in place.

Learn More About the Health Impact of Supportive Housing
👉 Explore the study by the Urban Institute on how supportive housing reduces emergency visits + increases primary care acces

This research shows:

A 40% reduction in emergency department visits
A 150% increase in psychiatric outpatient visits for residents in permanent supportive housing

The Link Between Health and Home

Studies show that supportive housing significantly improves health outcomes. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, individuals in permanent supportive housing:

Have fewer hospital visits
Use fewer emergency services
Are more likely to stay in treatment for mental illness and substance use

At IHCS, we see these outcomes every day. But behind the numbers are real stories—people moving from survival mode to wellness, purpose, and hope.

Inside IHCS’s Supportive Housing Programs

Our program isn’t just about giving someone a bed. It’s about creating a safe, healing environment with the wraparound care they need to truly thrive.

Residents in our programs receive:

Primary care for chronic and acute conditions
Mental health services including psychiatric care and therapy
Substance use recovery support and coaching
Peer-led groups to foster connection and accountability
Case management for life goals, employment, and social services
Specialty referrals for dental, vision, and follow-up care

This integrated, trauma-informed model is how we end the cycle—not just treat it.

Real Outcomes. Real Impact.

We track more than numbers—we track lives changed.

97% of residents remain in stable housing after one year
93% avoid substance relapse while in the program
70% continue recovery even after exiting housing
Hundreds reached through street medicine outreach

Why Community Support Makes All the Difference

While our programs receive some local funding, the heart of our impact comes from people like you. Donations help us offer what grants can’t cover—but what humans need.