Indiana is one of the worst states for infant mortality, with a recent infant mortality rate increase driven exclusively by the number of Black babies dying and with a Black infant mortality rate in Marion County that is, on average, nearly twice as high as the rate for white, non-Hispanic infants. Housing is a critical determinant of maternal and child health. The lack of safe, affordable housing, especially for Black households, is a prominent issue in Indiana.
Indiana is notable for having high housing instability and weak renter protections. We are committed to increasing equitable access to stable, affordable and high-quality housing. The Housing Equity for Infant Health Initiative addresses the inequitable access to safe and affordable housing in Indiana through a two-pronged approach:
- Health-Justice Intervention — A project advancing housing as a human right for mothers and their families.
- Healthy Beginnings at Home — A pilot program providing 12 months of rental assistance, housing navigation, and housing case management to pregnant women in Marion County.
Vision Statement
Ensuring that a safe and affordable place to call home is a right for every mother and child.
Housing Equity for Infant Health Components
| Health Justice Intervention | Healthy Beginnings at Home | ||||
| Education | Strategic Litigation | Legal Analysis |
Housing Navigation | Rental Assistance | Case Management |
| See if you are eligible for the Healthy Beginnings at Home Program |
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Healthy Beginnings at Home
Healthy Beginnings at Home is a program providing 12 months of support to pregnant women in Marion County who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. In addition to being recipients of this service, participants are part of our research efforts to show the impact of stable housing and social support on maternal and infant health.
Participants enrolled in Healthy Beginnings at Home must:
- have CareSource Medicaid
- live in Marion County for the next two years
- be in their first or second trimester of pregnancy
- be experiencing homelessness or housing instability
Recruitment is currently open, however, there is limited space available.
How has this program impacted your life?
"I don't know where I'd be right now without Health Beginnings at Home. It's scary to think about sometimes. The program has given me and my kids a roof over our heads, which really means we didn't have to worry from one day to the next if we would have a home or not, and having housing stability makes a difference. Before I enrolled, there would be days I would often wonder if I would have a home to go back to and some days think, 'Are we going to have to stay in our car for a while?' This program has made me feel seen, and the people who work there give me the security and support of always having someone in my corner to back me up. When I was going through homelessness and other issues, they saw me, helped me, and I never felt judged by them, not once, and I've never had that before."
—Program participant
Recognition
Our Healthy Beginnings at Home intervention strategy was selected as a Promising Practice by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP). Please visit the AMCHP to learn more about this program and to download the implementation handout that provides our practice summary and implementation guidance. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in replicating this approach in your community.
