Housing insecurity has a more significant impact on health than previously thought

By Dennis Archambault

It goes without saying that eviction is a stressful, disruptive experience for anyone. Housing insecurity has been known as a social determinant of health, but how does that correlate with short-term and long-term health issues? That’s a question that Shawnita Sealey-Jefferson, an Ohio State University sociologist, and colleagues explore in a paper published in the Journal of Urban Health. Not surprisingly, a high percentage of the respondents reported low health status. One can assume that the disruption of housing – and possible extended homelessness – would disconnect people from health providers and good health maintenance, not to mention the impact from enduring the stress that accompanies the disruption. However, the study reported that over 60 percent of the participants had high adverse childhood experiences in their youth. That was correlated with a 34 to 37 percent correlation in low health status by the respondents. That’s a clear indication of the connection between the cycle of poverty and health.

The study concludes that more work is required to better define the health impact of eviction. But the high percentage of people currently experiencing eviction after having experienced it as a child, coupled with an even higher rate of adverse childhood experiences – known to lead to poor health outcomes – underscores how critical this social determinant of health is.

Dennis Archambault is vice president of Public Affairs for Authority Health.