California is looking into using Medicaid funds to provide housing for low-income individuals.

Key Highlights :

The Biden Administration has taken a major step forward in the fight against homelessness in the United States. By granting Arizona and Oregon permission to use Medicaid money for housing, and now California proposing to join them, the Administration is showing that it is serious about tackling the issue of homelessness.

California has the largest Medicaid program in the nation, and also has nearly a third of the nation’s homeless population. In 2016, the state experimented with using Medicaid money for housing-related expenses, and the results were encouraging. There was a significant reduction in expensive hospital stays and emergency room visits, and this is a sign that providing stable housing to those in need is an effective way to reduce health care costs.

Now, California is proposing to use Medicaid money to directly pay some people’s rent. This is a major step forward in the fight against homelessness, as it will provide those in need with the stability of having a place to live. However, advocates for homeless people say that spending more money on rent isn’t enough, noting the state still has a massive shortage of affordable housing.

The story of Thomas Marshall is a powerful example of how providing stable housing can have a life-changing impact. He had been hospitalized 10 times in five years and had an open wound on his leg that refused to heal. After being provided with stable housing, he lost nearly 100 pounds and his wound healed. This is just one example of how providing stable housing can have a drastic effect on an individual’s health and wellbeing.

The Biden Administration’s decision to allow states to use Medicaid money for housing is a major step forward in the fight against homelessness. However, it is clear that more needs to be done in order to truly address the issue. California’s proposal to use Medicaid money to directly pay some people’s rent is a good start, but it is not a long-term solution. The state still needs to address its shortage of affordable housing in order to truly tackle the issue of homelessness.

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