At Homeward Bound Villages, one of the keys to solving the affordable housing crisis in La Porte County is to advocate for those impacted by our current housing situation. Advocacy is not only championing housing policies at the local, state, and national levels; it is about educating our communities on the topics that impact housing and housing development in our area. Today, we want to take a deep dive into the concept of housing insecurity.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2030 Study, they define housing security as “Housing instability encompasses a number of challenges, such as having trouble paying rent, overcrowding, moving frequently, or spending the bulk of household income on housing. These experiences may negatively affect physical health and make it harder to access health care.”
Housing insecurity is more than just having trouble paying rent—it’s a complex challenge that affects millions of Americans in various ways and is very evident locally here in La Porte County. From struggling to make monthly payments to living in overcrowded conditions or moving frequently, housing instability can have far-reaching effects on the physical and mental health of those impacted and the greater community in general.
When we talk about housing costs being a burden, we’re referring to households that spend more than 30% of their income on housing. This is a commonly recognized definition across housing agencies. Even more concerning are those who are severely cost-burdened, spending over half of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. This leaves little money for other essentials like food, healthcare, and utilities. The numbers are stark according to the Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2030 Study, “in 2019, over 37 million households were cost-burdened, with nearly half of those being severely cost-burdened. For families earning less than $15,000 annually, the situation is particularly dire, with more than 83% being cost-burdened.” What is striking about this statistic is that these are pre-pandemic numbers. According to a recent article from Census.gov. they’ve determined that nearly half of the rented households in the U.S. are cost-burdened.
The impact of housing instability isn’t felt equally across our communities. Black and Hispanic households are almost twice as likely to face this burden compared to White households, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Study and the Census.gov article as well. When affordable housing is scarce, many families are forced to make difficult choices. Some end up in substandard housing, facing health risks from mold, vermin, or inadequate heating and cooling systems. Others move in with family or friends, leading to overcrowded conditions that can increase stress levels and the risk of infectious diseases.
Perhaps most devastating are those forced to move through eviction or foreclosure. An eviction record can haunt families for years, making it even harder to find future housing. Research shows that those forced to move often end up in neighborhoods with higher crime rates and fewer resources. The stress of housing instability can be severe – during the foreclosure crisis of 2005-2010, suicide rates linked to housing stress doubled, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2030 Study.
Children are particularly vulnerable to housing instability. Those who move frequently, defined in the study as three or more times in a year, often face chronic health conditions and are more likely to have gaps in their health insurance coverage. The impact can be long-lasting, affecting their education and future opportunities.
The most severe form of housing instability is homelessness, affecting approximately 653,104 people on any given night in 2023, according to The National Alliance to End Homelessness. This number is a 12% increase nationally over the year before. The health implications are severe – homeless individuals face significantly higher rates of chronic diseases and mental health challenges.
There is hope, however. Programs that help families move from high-poverty to low-poverty neighborhoods have shown promising results, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2030 Study. The study went on to give the following example: Children who moved to better neighborhoods before age 13 were more likely to attend college, earn higher incomes, and live in better neighborhoods than adults.
As we continue to address this crisis and talk about housing equity, housing insecurity, and advocacy for affordable housing in our community, it’s crucial to understand that housing stability isn’t just about having a place to live – it’s about having a foundation for health, education, and opportunity. It is literally our mission in action, “creating community through affordable housing.” By recognizing housing as a fundamental social determinant of health, we can work together to create solutions that ensure everyone has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.
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