What are Social Determinants of Health?
Social determinants of health are any factors outside of a traditional medical setting that influence a person’s health. Some are education level, working conditions, income level, or food insecurity. You can dive deeper with a detailed description of them are here. Increasingly experts are pointing to housing conditions (or the lack of housing) as a major social determinant of health.
Housing as a Social Determinant of Health
Stable housing is essential for good health. Along with other social determinants of health, housing plays an important role in helping people achieve or maintain good health.
Without stable housing, people can experience extreme weather or violence. Lacking stable housing also means experiencing significant stress and anxiety. Additionally, it is easier to access healthcare when it is nearby and you have a stable address to receive communications. Finally, experiencing housing instability or homelessness means the loss of social connections. Neighborhood social connections and friendships are lost. Housing stability means maintaining social connections. And these relationships are positive for mental health.
Changing the way we look at healthcare
More healthcare institutions and hospitals are viewing access to stable housing as healthcare.
In 2023, the federal government made it possible for states to use “Medicaid dollars to directly support housing expenses, including rent and temporary housing, and invest in community capacity building (for example, in providers and partnerships) to support housing services at a scale that is unprecedented in the program’s history.” Following the evidence that shows that health outcomes are closely tied to housing stability.
Additionally, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital partners with the Avondale Development Corporation on providing financing for home repairs, to develop affordable housing, and increase homeownership.
These are all positive ways to increase housing stability. And, therefore, also ways to positively affect health outcomes. Another tactic is Homelessness Prevention.
Homelessness Prevention plays a role
One strong way to address housing stability is through homelessness prevention programs. Strategies to End Homelessness runs the Shelter Diversion program. Shelter Diversion stops individuals and families from entering emergency shelter. And instead, gets them into affordable rental housing. Additionally, households tap into other wrap-around services to get the household stable again. Efforts are made by staff to find housing in the household’s neighborhood of choice. Thereby allowing the household to stay in the community where they have social ties.
Housing is undoubtedly a major social determinant of health. If we want to improve health outcomes, both public and individual, access to stable housing for all must be a top priority.
