Severe Housing Problems - Ages 62+

Severe Housing Problems - Ages 62+ in District of Columbia

District of Columbia

Older adults are the most vulnerable to the effects of poor housing. Poor housing quality may cause injury and diseases, and other housing-related factors such as neighborhood environment and overcrowding can negatively affect mental and physical health. Housing and neighborhood environment are social determinants of health and influence health inequities.

Hazards in the home, such as lead paint, allergens, water leaks, poor ventilation and inadequate heating, cooling and plumbing, can lead to poor respiratory health and disease and increased risk of cardiovascular conditions. Overcrowding, defined as having more than one person per room in a residence, is associated with increased risk of poor mental health and physical illnesses such as tuberculosis and other infectious diseases. 

Housing costs and affordability among older adults are of particular concern. Cost-burdened households may have difficulty affording other basic needs such as health care, food and heat.

Populations at greater risk of experiencing severe housing problems include:

• Low-income families and individuals.
• Racial and ethnic minorities. 

Older adults who rent are more likely to be cost-burdened than those who own their homes, which may also put them at higher risk for severe housing problems.

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

More collaboration between the housing and public health sectors is needed to promote healthy home environments and better integrate health care into the housing systems, particularly for those with complex health needs. County Health Rankings & Roadmaps has several strategies that have been found to improve housing quality, including healthy home environment assessments and housing rehabilitation loan and grant programs. The National Low Income Housing Coalition offers additional advocacy resources and policy priorities 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 prohibiting smoking in multiunit housing. 

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.

“Housing America’s Older Adults 2019.” 2019. Cambridge, MA: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_Housing_Americas_Older_Adults_2019.pdf.

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.

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.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2009. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44199/.