America's Health Rankings, United Health Foundation Logo

Severe Housing Problems
Severe Housing Problems in Wisconsin
Wisconsin

Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.

How to use this page

Wisconsin Value:

13.1%

Percentage of occupied housing units with at least one of the following problems: lack of complete kitchen facilities, lack of plumbing facilities, overcrowding or severely cost-burdened occupants (5-year estimate)

Wisconsin Rank:

11

Severe Housing Problems in depth:

Explore Population Data:

General Population

Severe Housing Problems by State

Percentage of occupied housing units with at least one of the following problems: lack of complete kitchen facilities, lack of plumbing facilities, overcrowding or severely cost-burdened occupants (5-year estimate)




Severe Housing Problems Trends

Percentage of occupied housing units with at least one of the following problems: lack of complete kitchen facilities, lack of plumbing facilities, overcrowding or severely cost-burdened occupants (5-year estimate)

Trend: Severe Housing Problems in Wisconsin, United States, 2023 Health Of Women And Children Report

Percentage of occupied housing units with at least one of the following problems: lack of complete kitchen facilities, lack of plumbing facilities, overcrowding or severely cost-burdened occupants (5-year estimate)

Wisconsin
United States
Source:

 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy

View All Populations
Compare States

Severe Housing Problems

Trend: Severe Housing Problems in Wisconsin, United States, 2023 Health Of Women And Children Report

Percentage of occupied housing units with at least one of the following problems: lack of complete kitchen facilities, lack of plumbing facilities, overcrowding or severely cost-burdened occupants (5-year estimate)

Wisconsin
United States
Source:

 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy


About Severe Housing Problems

US Value: 17.0%

Top State(s): West Virginia: 10.9%

Bottom State(s): Hawaii: 26.2%

Definition: Percentage of occupied housing units with at least one of the following problems: lack of complete kitchen facilities, lack of plumbing facilities, overcrowding or severely cost-burdened occupants (5-year estimate)

Data Source and Years: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy, 2015-2019

Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2023.

Housing influences health and well-being. Those lacking at least one basic household necessity (bathtub/shower, sink with faucet, stove or refrigerator) have higher rates of being uninsured. Poor quality of housing can cause disease and injury and affect childhood development, while other housing-related factors such as neighborhood environment and overcrowding can lead to mental and physical health problems. 

Housing-related factors and their associated health consequences include, but are not limited to:

  • Affordability: Cost-burdened families may have difficulty affording other basic needs such as health care, food and heat. Individuals who had difficulty affording housing were more likely to report fair or poor health, certain chronic conditions and non-adherence to prescriptions due to cost. Housing has become less affordable over time as rental costs have risen more quickly than incomes. Between 2001 and 2019, median rent increased by 15%, but median renter household income rose only 3.4% over the same period. This finding underscores the continued importance of federal and local housing subsidies. More than 10 million renters were severely cost-burdened in 2018, paying more than 50% of their income toward rent. 
  • Hazards: Hazards in the home (such as lead paint, allergens, water leaks, poor ventilation and inadequate heating, cooling or plumbing) are associated with poor respiratory health and disease, increased risk of cardiovascular conditions and developmental delays in children. 
  • Overcrowding: Overcrowding is defined as having more than one person per room in a residence. It is associated with an increased risk of poor mental health and physical illnesses, such as tuberculosis and other infectious diseases. 

While anyone may live in a home with conditions that threaten health, those with a greater risk of experiencing housing-related health conditions include:

Evidence supports various interventions to prevent and minimize the impact of housing problems on health. Healthy Homes programs at state and local levels have been found to improve health by remedying unhealthy housing conditions, such as lead hazards, inadequate ventilation and excess moisture.

Increasing affordable housing options through local and national housing development policies, rental vouchers and subsidized housing programs can help cost-burdened individuals afford housing. More collaboration between the housing and health sectors is needed to promote healthy home environments and to better integrate health care into the housing systems — particularly for those with chronic health needs. The National Low Income Housing Coalition offers additional resources and policy recommendations related to housing challenges.

Healthy People 2030 has multiple goals related to housing, including:

  • Reducing the proportion of families who spend more than 30% of their income on housing. 
  • Increasing the number of states and territories that prohibit smoking in multiunit housing.

“America’s Rental Housing 2020.” 2020. Cambridge, MA: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_Americas_Rental_Housing_2020.pdf.

Braveman, Paula, Mercedes Dekker, Susan Egerter, Tabashir Sadegh-Nobari, and Craig Pollack. 2011. “Housing and Health.” Issue Brief #7: Exploring the Social Determinants of Health. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America. https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2011/05/housing-and-health.html.

Donald, Ian P. 2009. “Housing and Health Care for Older People.” Age and Ageing 38 (4): 364–67. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afp060.

Freund, Deborah, Chengcheng Zhang, Petra W Rasmussen, Safia Hassan, and Gerald Kominski. n.d. “Despite Gains From ACA, Lower Rates of Health Insurance Coverage Persist Among Those Lacking Housing Basics,” 3.

Gibson, Marcia, Mark Petticrew, Clare Bambra, Amanda J. Sowden, Kath E. Wright, and Margaret Whitehead. 2011. “Housing and Health Inequalities: A Synthesis of Systematic Reviews of Interventions Aimed at Different Pathways Linking Housing and Health.” Health & Place 17 (1): 175–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.09.011.

Pollack, Craig, Susan Egerter, Tabashir Sadegh-Nobari, Mercedes Dekker, and Paula Braveman. 2008. “Where We Live Matters for Our Health: The Links Between Housing and Health.” Issue Brief 2: Housing and Health. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America. http://www.commissiononhealth.org/PDF/e6244e9e-f630-4285-9ad7-16016dd7e493/Issue Brief 2 Sept 08 - Housing and Health.pdf.

Pollack, Craig Evan, Beth Ann Griffin, and Julia Lynch. 2010. “Housing Affordability and Health Among Homeowners and Renters.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 39 (6): 515–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2010.08.002.

Sandel, Megan, and Matthew Desmond. 2017. “Investing in Housing for Health Improves Both Mission and Margin.” JAMA 318 (23): 2291–92. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.15771.

“The State of the Nation’s Housing 2022.” 2022. Cambridge, MA: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_State_Nations_Housing_2022.pdf.

Current Reports

America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.

We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.