Housing Matters

Why Housing Matters

Access to safe, stable, affordable housing is linked to better health.

Affordable housing leaves people with more money to spend on basic needs such as healthy food, clothing, medicine, child care and transportation. These benefits lead to better emotional and mental health, more stability and less stress. Having a safe, secure, well-located place to live is an important part of gaining employment, food security, access to social services, education, recreation and health care.

Poor quality housing is linked to higher rates of:

  • Disease, illness and injury
  • Poor nutrition
  • Poor mental health
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Exposure to violence

Who is at Risk?

Indigenous people, those with mental illness and low-income families with children are at greater risk for homelessness and more likely to live in unsafe, unstable, and unaffordable housing. The possibility of homelessness has harmful effects on children, and homelessness has lasting impacts on mental and physical health that can lead to illness later in life.

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