A program led by Indiana University School of Medicine is helping to provide housing for pregnant women who are facing housing insecurity or homelessness. The program aims to improve birth outcomes in Indianapolis via housing, social support and advocacy.
The program consists of two components: Healthy Beginnings at Home (HBAH) and Health Justice Intervention.
HBAH provides housing navigation services, 24 months of rental assistance and case management services. Participants in HBAH must be in their first or second trimester, over age 18, experiencing housing insecurity and CareSource Medicaid members. Health Justice Intervention aims to prevent evictions of low-income pregnant women by working with the judicial system.
The program is coordinated by Adam Mueller, executive director of the Indiana Justice Project and funded by a five-year, $2.4 million grant called Housing Equity for Infant Health from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
IU School of Medicine is collaborating with RDOOR Housing Corporation, the Indiana Justice Project, Birge and Held Asset Management, Wheeler Mission, CareSource, Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention, Indiana Department of Health, Prosperity Indiana and the City of Indianapolis Mayor’s Office.
