Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To examine the landscape of place-based initiatives seeking to improve child health and address health inequities within a defined geography, and to evaluate recent literature to develop strategies to center housing-focused interventions at the center of such initiatives. RECENT FINDINGS: The evidence showed that place-based efforts vary by primary focus, geographic scale, target populations, and types of interventions. Multipronged, multisector collaborative efforts aimed at improving population health outcomes have the most potential to advance pediatric health across neighborhoods and reduce disparities. Yet, few place-based models integrate housing as a central intervention, though there are some notable exceptions. Evidence suggests that place-based initiatives must expand housing interventions across four domains: ensuring affordability, preventing instability, prioritizing quality, and investing in neighborhoods. Intentional efforts to minimize risk of displacement and prevent widening disparities are critical. Ensuring the success of this work will require innovating in leadership structure, sustainable funding models, rigorous evaluation, and enhanced dissemination of results. SUMMARY: To realize the full potential of place-based interventions, housing must be the cornerstone. Integrating affordable, stable, quality housing into these initiatives can drive population-level improvements and reduce racial disparities in health outcomes.