Feb. 6, 2026
 
When we think about healthcare, we typically picture hospitals, clinics and prescription medications. We rarely consider the four walls and roof over someone’s head. However, mounting evidence confirms what many healthcare providers already know: stable housing is one of the most powerful interventions we can offer to improve health outcomes.

The connection between housing and health is not theoretical. Research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine demonstrates that individuals facing homelessness face mortality rates three to four times higher than the general population. Inadequate housing and conditions like mold, poor air quality or unsafe temperatures are linked to higher rates of chronic disease, mental illness and substance use disorders. In addition, families with housing instability tend to receive delayed medical care, experience higher rates of medication nonadherence and suffer increased emergency room visits. Here in Louisiana, we see this reality play out daily. Individuals who cycle through emergency rooms and temporary shelters rarely achieve stability without addressing their most fundamental need: a safe place to live.

START CORP was founded in Houma in 1984 to address this very need. Over forty years later, our programs are a case study in what effective housing-as-healthcare looks like in practice. Through START, individuals and families are cared for holistically, ensuring that housing, mental health and clinical needs are met through every age and stage of life.

At our main campus in Houma, the Wren Way Supportive Housing program serves individuals with serious and persistent mental illness who need more than a roof overhead. As a licensed adult residential care facility, residents live in single-occupancy studio apartments with access to three meals served daily, staffing supports and life skills training. The program recognizes that treating mental illness requires the foundation of stable housing.

In 2025, 50% of Wren Way program participants transitioned into stable housing. Participants saw a significant reduction in inpatient hospitalization and an overall increase in level of functioning. Of note, 15% experienced improved employment or income level.

Similarly, the START Now program provides rental assistance and case management to individuals experiencing homelessness who have disabilities. In this case, community support specialists work with clients to secure housing and connect them with healthcare services, employment and other vital resources. Critically, START Now operates as permanent support housing, acknowledging that health challenges often require long-term support rather than temporary fixes. We take this approach one step further through critical services and housing for veterans, including the Grant Per Diem (GPD) program, which provides transitional housing and support to single homeless veterans.

 

Housing is not a privilege or a reward for achieving stability. It is the foundation upon which stability is built. For individuals with disabilities, mental illness or chronic health conditions, supportive housing paired with case management and comprehensive clinical care represents healthcare delivery at its most effective.

 

At START, we know it works. Since opening our doors, we have grown from our flagship campus in Houma to seven locations across the state. Louisiana has an opportunity to build on programs like those operated by START. Expanded housing capacity improves individual health outcomes and reduces overall healthcare costs. The economic case is clear: investing upstream in housing and wraparound supports costs less than managing downstream crises in emergency rooms and hospitals. This requires collaboration across sectors. Healthcare systems, housing providers, mental health services and disability supports must work together. Policymakers must recognize housing as essential healthcare infrastructure and fund it accordingly. Community members can support these efforts by advocating for supportive housing development and challenging the stigma around homelessness and mental illness. Our work at START demonstrates what becomes possible when we treat housing as a healthcare intervention. We are improving health outcomes, reducing costs and honoring the dignity of our veterans and community members who deserve the opportunity to thrive.

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CASEY GUIDRY CEO, Start Corporation

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https://app.nola.com/article/better-housing-key-to-improving-health-outcomes-2/content.html