Subsidized Housing and Health: An Exploratory Study Examining Resident Perspectives on Community Health and Access to Care

Abstract

Adequate, safe, and affordable housing is an important determinant of health, yet studies on subsidized housing and health are limited in number and scope. This exploratory survey assessed the health conditions, needs, accessibility of services, and health issues perceived as most important by federally-subsidized affordable housing participants in Virginia. Results for residents of public housing complexes, tenants with housing vouchers, and a nationally representative sample are compared. Findings highlight issues related to cost of care, transportation, medication adherence, depression, and asthma. While housing subsidies are intended to reduce economic burden by enabling residents to use financial resources for other purposes (e.g., preventive health care, access to food), findings suggest that participants continue to experience cost-related barriers and poor health.