Health and Healthcare Access Among Adults Living in Affordable Housing: National Estimates for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit

Abstract

By merging data from the National Health Interview Survey (2004–2016) with a census of buildings financed by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), this study provides national estimates for the health status and healthcare access among low-income adults living in LIHTC-financed housing. Compared to those not living in LIHTC-financed housing, unadjusted analyses found that younger adults (age 18–64) living in LIHTC-financed housing reported worse health status, more psychological distress, and more use of emergency department care, but they were also more likely to be insured, receive a flu vaccine, and have a usual source of care. Older adults (age 65+) living in LIHTC reported more psychological distress, more need for assistance with activities of daily living, more falls in the past year, and more use of emergency department care, as well as a slightly higher likelihood of being insured. Adjusted analyses revealed that sociodemographic characteristics helped explain some but not all of these findings, suggesting a need for further investigation of the drivers of health status and healthcare access for adults living in LIHTC-financed housing.