More than ever, facing the challenges of housing insecurity is becoming a top priority for communities nationwide. Here’s why.
- Direct impact on health: The quality of housing directly affects physical and behavioral health. People experiencing homelessness are at higher risk for illness, mental health issues, and death. Substandard housing leads not only to higher incidence of illness, but also greater exposure to toxins like lead and asbestos that exacerbate health problems.
- Cost burdens of housing issues: Overcrowding, substandard housing, eviction, and homelessness all lead to poor economic outcomes, lower infant birthweights, mental health challenges, chronic disease, and higher mortality.
- Effects on healthcare access: Due to high housing costs,half of renters delay medical care because they can’t afford it. And people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity have a much harder time accessing healthcare.
- Rise in homelessness: After homelessness hit a record high in 2023, it increased another 18% from 2023 to 2024. More than 771,800 people in the U.S. lived without housing in 2024.
To address these issues, we are announcing the launch of the HMA Housing and Health Solutions team. HMA has brought together a team of experts who understand the challenges that homelessness and housing insecurity present to community health. Bringing together partners across all sectors, we help craft effective solutions for populations that lack access to stable housing and healthcare.
Our team includes former directors of national, state, and municipal government housing departments, nonprofit affordable housing organizations, and housing financing and investment.
We’re pleased to announce the addition of two well-renowned housing experts to the team. Andy McMahon joins HMA after spending over seven years at UnitedHealthcare and UnitedHealth Group. Andy has over two decades of executive experience spanning healthcare, housing, human services and community development, and worked with UHC Medicaid plans nationwide on various policy issues to improve care for the most complex populations. Doug Shoemaker joins HMA after leading Mercy Housing California for 13 years. Prior to Mercy Housing, Doug directed the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development in San Francisco. Doug focuses on the intersection of housing, community development and healthcare to advance projects and policy that improve outcomes for lower-income individuals and communities.
Come meet some of our team members at the NAEH conference Feb 26 and 27 in Los Angeles, CA and visit us at the HMA booth in the exhibit hall. HMA’s Dena Hasan will be presenting, “Does Secret Domestic Violence Housing Lead to Unsheltered Homelessness?” on 2/26 at 2:30 in San Gabriel ABC, and “Does Medicaid Hold the Key to Housing?” at 3:45pm in Santa Anita AB.
Housing and Health Solutions
