Affordable housing impacts us in a lot of ways, many of which we are only beginning to understand. As children, we are greatly impacted by our living conditions. Safe, decent, and affordable housing can aid a child’s development and lead to better academic performance, health, and overall development.
This means the opposite is also true. When a child lives in an unsafe and unaffordable house (such as one that is overcrowded, affected by pests or mold, etc.), their development can suffer as a result.
Recently, a new study was published in the American Academy of Pediatrics. The study, which has been conducted over a twenty-two year period, has examined the impacts housing insecurity has on children’s health. By following the children from infancy to adulthood, the researchers are able to see both the long-term and short-term health effects.
Children in this study who experienced housing insecurity reported worse physical and mental health than their peers at age 15. NPR reported on this study and said “The ‘absence of a safe and secure shelter creates ‘chronic and unrelenting’ stress for the parents or caregivers, which is then picked up by kids, as well.” This stress can affect children’s development and mental health in the moment and as they grow older.
Not only does affordable housing benefit a child’s health, it can also lead to increased educational success and achievement. The stability associated with owning a home eliminates the stress of frequent and disruptive moves, which can result in a child switching schools depending on the distance, as well as a chaotic home environment during the moving period. Moving can be done for a variety of reasons, but from 2012-2013, 10% of movers did so to find less expensive housing or as a result of eviction or foreclosures.
So what can be done to help families access safe, decent, and affordable housing?
Federal Rental Assistance is a huge part of helping low-income families afford safe and decent housing. However, there are some problems with the current federal rental assistance system.
According to an article posted by the New York Times, the three main federal housing programs (public housing, Section 8, and Housing Choice Vouchers) were serving almost 300,000 less households in 2023 than they served in 2004, when the programs were at their peak.
Housing Choice Vouchers, a program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, are utilized by over 2.3 million households in America. This program limits a family’s rent to 30% of their income or a “minimum rent” of $50 (whichever is higher). The rest of the rent is covered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program has been shown to be extremely effective in reducing homelessness and unsafe housing conditions. For children, having access to this program means stability. They’re less likely to transfer schools or go into the foster care system.
The problem, however, is that only about 1/4 of eligible households receive these vouchers. And for those that do, landlords are increasingly refusing to participate in the program. This makes it very difficult for families who have access to the program to find safe, decent, and affordable housing. In addition, once the voucher is received, the household only has 60 days to find a participating landlord.
Increasing funding for these federal rental assistance programs would give more families the opportunity to access affordable housing and all the benefits associated with it. Children would gain access to stable and healthy homes, where they can flourish mentally, physically, and academically.
And, for those families who are ready to purchase a home, additional funding (whether from federal/state grants, or donations from businesses and individuals) can support organizations like Habitat for Humanity in providing pathways to affordable homeownership.
Sources:
MPRNews, “When little kids don’t have stable housing, it can affect their health later,” https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/07/01/nx-s1-5019537/housing-insecurity-childhood-health-depression-anxiety
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Stable Housing Is Foundational to Children’s Well-Being,” https://www.cbpp.org/blog/stable-housing-is-foundational-to-childrens-well-being.
Business Insider, “Low-income Americans wait years to get housing vouchers that are often impossible to use. Fixing the system could mean more funding and less red tape.” https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-vouchers-crisis-funding-landlords-restrictions-inspections-renters-struggle-2024-5.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Policy Basics: Federal Rental Assistance,” https://www.cbpp.org/research/policy-basics-federal-rental-assistance.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Policy Basics: The Housing Choice Voucher Program,” https://www.cbpp.org/research/policy-basics-the-housing-choice-voucher-program.
Center for Housing Policy, “The Impacts of Affordable Housing on Education: A Research Summary,” https://nhc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/The-Impacts-of-Affordable-Housing-on-Education-1.pdf.
New York Times, “As Need Rises, Housing Aid Hits Lowest Level in Nearly 25 Years,” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/us/politics/housing-aid-rent-costs.html.
