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This month, during the American Medical Association (AMA) Special Meeting, the Council on Medical Services adopted a report that calls for a comprehensive approach to address the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH). In the report, SDOH are defined as economic stability, neighborhood, access to transportation, education and life opportunities, access to food, quality and safety of housing, community/social support, and access to health care.

The financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has ignited a crisis in housing for thousands of families throughout our state. According to the research firm Stout, it is estimated that 960K to 1.1 million households in Florida are at risk of eviction. And the rent shortfall is currently estimated between $1.422 billion and $1.5 billion.
 
Protective measures have been put in place by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as the Executive Orders from the Governor’s Office to stem the tide of mass evictions. In some communities, resources have also been set aside, primarily through the CARES Act funding, to assist tenants and landlords in dealing with the inability to cover rent payments.
 
Physicians often struggle to find immediate ways to assist patients with some of the social determinants of health that they face. In this instance, the framework for assistance is in place for physicians to play an active role in helping their patients deal with housing insecurity through awareness and resources.
 
First, the Dade County Medical Association (DCMA) has secured a screening tool developed by the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid that can be used to have a conversation with your patients about their housing situation. If you’d like to obtain a copy, please feel free to reach out to our organization.
Second, make sure your patients are aware of the CDC moratorium including who qualifies and what limitations are in effect, and how to apply. A website has been created that provides Floridians all of this background information: www.floridaevictionhelp.org