When we talk about healthcare, most people think of doctor visits, prescriptions, and health insurance. But one of the most powerful determinants of your health has nothing to do with a clinic — it’s where you sleep at night. 

The connection between housing and health outcomes is one of the most well-documented relationships in public health today, and it’s reshaping the way communities, policymakers, and organizations think about care. At Pacific Health Group, our clinicians and community health workers have supported thousands of members across multiple states in navigating the intersection of housing instability and health.

What “housing is health care” really means

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the social determinants of health — income, education, environment, and housing stability — can drive as much as 80% of health outcomes.

When housing is unstable, unsafe, or absent entirely, the body and mind pay the price. When housing is secure, people are better positioned to manage chronic disease, access health care, maintain mental health, and build a stable life. This is the foundation of the housing and healthcare conversation — and why it matters to every community.

Some statistics on how housing affects health

Difficulty paying rent, living in overcrowded conditions, moving frequently, or spending the majority of income on housing is strongly associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Recherche shows that youth facing housing instability are 42% more likely to experience anxiety and 57% more likely to experience depression, and those with both mental health conditions and housing instability are significantly less likely to receive mental health services. 

People experiencing housing instability are more likely to delay needed medical care and more likely to rely on emergency department visits and inpatient hospitalization rather than routine ambulatory care.

How unstable housing directly harms your health

The physical toll of housing insecurity

Housing insecurity doesn’t always mean someone doesn’t have stable housing. It can refer to a housing environment that exposes people to a range of dangerous conditions. Poor ventilation, mold, overcrowding, and pest infestations are common in substandard housing — and each one carries serious health risks. Recherche from Harvard Medical School confirms that indoor mold exposures have been linked to both asthma development and exacerbation, and that children with asthma are more likely to require emergency department visits and hospitalizations. 

Beyond the home environment itself, housing insecurity is closely tied to a wide range of chronic conditions, including:

• Cardiovascular disease 
• Diabetes 
• Hypertension 
• Obesity 
• Substance use disorder 
• Depression and anxiety 
• Infectious disease — the Centres de contrôle et de prévention des maladies (CDC) identifies homelessness as a major risk factor for HIV, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis, driven by congregate living conditions and limited access to harm reduction resources.

The stress of not knowing where you’ll sleep, how you’ll pay rent, or whether your family is safe activates the body’s fight-or-flight response on a near-constant basis — and prolonged stress is a well-established driver of inflammation, heart disease, and immune dysfunction.

The mental health crisis hiding inside housing instability

The relationship between housing instability and santé mentale is equally alarming. Anxiety, depression, and traumatisme are disproportionately experienced by people facing homelessness or housing insecurity. The chronic unpredictability of unstable housing disrupts dormir, erodes social connections, and removes the sense of safety that mental well-being depends on.

For young people, especially, housing instability can be devastating. Teenagers without stable homes often lack access to teenage support groups near me or other local mental health resources that peers take for granted. LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing family rejection or homelessness face compounded risks, and hotlines and crisis services are frequently overwhelmed with demand.

Why the homelessness cycle can be hard to break

Homelessness is the most extreme expression of housing insecurity, and its health consequences are severe. The stress, uncertainty, and physical dangers of living without shelter increase the risk of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, while staying in congregate settings like emergency shelters raises the risk of infectious disease, including tuberculosis, hepatitis C, and HIV.

What makes this cycle so difficult to break is that the very conditions created by homelessness make it harder to escape homelessness. Without a stable address, it is nearly impossible to secure consistent health insurance, maintain employment, qualify for housing assistance, or even receive mail from benefits agencies. Without health insurance, chronic conditions go unmanaged until they become emergencies. Without treated health conditions, maintaining work and income becomes harder. And without income, stable housing stays out of reach.

 

Comment le Pacific Health Group peut vous aider

At Pacific Health Group, we understand that health doesn’t begin and end in a medical office. Our community support services are designed to meet clients where they are — whether that means connecting them to housing resources, in-home care providers, or wraparound services that support long-term stability.

Our team works closely with local partners, including emergency assistance organizations, to help clients navigate complex systems and access the resources they need. From supported community living programs to mental and behavioral health support, and connections to community organizations, we offer a comprehensive approach to care that treats housing as the health issue it truly is.

Along with Community Support Services, we serve individuals and families across a range of needs, including:

• Gestion améliorée des soins — intensive, personalized healthcare support for individuals with complex medical needs, ensuring they receive the right care at the right time
• Services de santé comportementale — comprehensive behavioral health treatment designed to improve well-being, including individual therapy, la thérapie familiale, and télésanté services.
• Community Health Worker Services — supporting stability through community-based outreach, helping clients navigate resources and healthcare services.

What you can do right now

If you or someone you love is struggling with housing insecurity and its impact on health, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Reach out to Pacific Health Group to learn how our community support services can help.

Health equity starts with recognizing that every person deserves not just health care, but the stable foundation that makes health possible. Housing is that foundation.

Call Pacific Health Group today at (888) 341-4449 or visit www.mypacifichealth.com to learn more about how our services can support you, your family, or someone in your community who may need them.