Hopkins Housing & Health Collaborative

The Hopkins Housing and Health Collaborative—working in conjunction with communities, policymakers, and practitioners—seeks to identify ways healthy housing can be used as a platform to support health and well-being across the life course. 

Interdisciplinary. The Collaborative brings together a wide range of researchers from across Johns Hopkins University, including faculty from the School of Nursing, Bloomberg School of Public Health, and School of Medicine. Pediatricians, geriatricians, internal medicine physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, epidemiologists, and health services researchers partner with individuals involved in housing development, advocacy, government, and health care systems to advance rigorous research and provide creative solutions in the face of growing housing challenges.  

Across the life course, across dimensions of housing.  Investigators involved in the Collaborative work on a wide range of projects from research that investigates how housing policies impact children’s healthy eating to programs designed to improve daily activities for older adults. Projects span multiple different aspects of housing, including its quality, affordability, and neighborhood context.    

Training future leaders. Collaborative members are committed to bringing together trainees with diverse interests in housing and its connection to health. Monthly meetings help introduce trainees to potential mentors and offer a supportive environment to share ideas and interests.  

The Hopkins Housing and Health Collaborative was founded by Sarah L. Szanton, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean of the School of Nursing, and Craig Pollack, MD, MHS, Katey Ayers Professor in the School of Nursing and Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Pollack currently directs the initiative. Leah Robinson, PhD student in the Bloomberg School of Public Health, is the Collaborative fellow.