Meghan Arsenault

Housing—and the lack of access to it—has long been recognized as a critical social determinant of health. The outstanding question for health care leaders is not whether health systems have a role to play but how they can make the most transformative impact in addressing homelessness.

Solving homelessness is possible. And one critical step towards achieving a healthier, more equitable reality where homelessness is rare and brief requires understanding that solving homelessness is not the job of a single sector. It is the work of a whole community. As a powerful part of that community, health systems have a transformative and catalytic role to play. Health systems committed to advancing and upholding the overall health of their communities have embraced an “anchor” mission.