Study Links Rental Housing Assistance to Improved Health

A recent study published by Deirdre Pfeiffer, an associate professor at Arizona State University’s School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, found that low-income households that moved to public housing during the previous year were more likely to report an improvement in their health than similar households who did not move to public housing. The study also found that HUD-assisted renters spent less on healthcare over the year than unassisted low-income renters did, after controlling for other characteristics.

Specifically, using the Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), the study found 12 percent of renters who moved into public housing during the previous year reported an improvement in health during the year compared to 8 percent of those who did not move to public housing. The reduction in cost burdens may reduce stress and leave households with more money to spend on healthcare or healthy activities.

When comparing households in public housing and Section 8 voucher recipients, regardless of how long they had received assistance, with similar households without assistance, the study found no difference in self-reported health status. Low-income households with Section 8 vouchers and those living in public housing, however, spent between $136 and $167 less on healthcare annually than similar low-income households without assistance.