Pennsylvania officials have committed $1 million in state funding to connect vulnerable Medicaid recipients with housing and health services.
The funding will help implement the Investments in Health housing pilot program in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026-2027 budget.
This program aims to support Medicaid recipients with chronic health conditions who are currently or at risk of becoming homeless by connecting them with housing-related and community health services. The goal is to improve people’s health and avoid more costly health services.
The state funding is expected to leverage additional federal dollars for a total $2.5 million to launch the housing stability program.
The budget also includes $900,000 in state funding to support pre-release Medicaid coverage for incarcerated individuals returning to their communities from state correctional institutions. This funding aims to leverage additional federal funding for a total of $2.7 million.
“Targeted budget investments in these proven services improve people’s health and quality of life, reduce healthcare costs and hospital visits, improve public safety, and reduce recidivism,” according to the governor’s office.
Val Arkoosh, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, recently visited The Lehigh Conference of Churches to see how the nonprofit organization is supporting people facing housing instability in the Lehigh Valley.
“When we invest in housing, we're investing in the health of individuals and our community as a whole. People who are housed are more likely to find and keep a job, are better able to manage chronic health conditions like diabetes where medication needs to be properly stored, and are less likely to go right to emergency departments and hospitals for everyday healthcare needs,” Arkoosh said.