Research published in Social Science and Medicine (SSM) Population Health and promoted by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition shows a correlation between “housing distress” and increased risk in physical and psychological health problems.

Housing distress among study participants was defined by researchers as having experienced ongoing housing problems lasting twelve months or longer.

The study, titled, “Housing distress and subsequent health and well-being among older adults: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach” came from a nationally representative panel of U.S. adults age 51 and older.

People of color and women accounted for higher shares of those who experienced housing distress. Black and Hispanic adults accounted for 28% and 15% of those who experienced housing distress, but only 11.7% and 8.8% of those who did not experience ongoing housing problems.

Their white counterparts, in comparison, accounted for 53% of those who experienced housing distress, and 77.3% of those without ongoing housing problems. Similarly, women accounted for 65% of those who experienced housing distress and only 58% of those without ongoing housing problems.

The researchers stated that the findings of this study suggest a need to develop interventions to prevent homelessness in older age and attend to a wider range of housing-related hardships when homelessness occurs in late adulthood. Given the demonstrated links between housing distress and health, targeted policy initiatives that address housing stability in later life may be vital for promoting healthy aging trajectories and aging in place and reducing disparities among older adults.