Safe, Affordable and Appropriate Housing
We understand that if people in our communities don’t have adequate housing it creates stress and health-related issues. We must also recognize that Housing is also a chronic disease SDOH issue because if we don't have any, we can't get people to come here to work in public health, healthcare, or community services.
Housing SDOH Areas of Focus
People need to have housing that fits their physical needs. Ensuring that people with physical limitations have housing that allows them to be safe in their own home. Housing also needs to be appropriate - is there adequate space for their needs, including families? Is the housing in an area suitable for work?
When people don't feel safe in their housing, due to the housing not meeting their needs, or having structural issues, this can drastically impact someone's physical and mental health. Increased stress due to someone's unsafe and unstable living conditions and lead to physical health problems, like high blood pressure. People can also see an increase in chronic disease issues, like asthma, when housing is not safe.
Access to quality public education differs depending on where someone lives.Children deserve access to the education that they need in order to succeed in life.Additional services like after school programs and mental health resources are important for development, and shouldn't be confined to a specific school district.
Housing instability affects children by changing their education system and also their emotional wellbeing. Instability can lead to overcrowding in housing, which can impact social and mental health as well. Due to the cost of frequent moves, this can impact the housing that is affordable for people.
Like so many, Montana is facing a crisis of affordable housing. People are no loner able to afford their homes and are having to seek out more affordable options in other locations. Housing must be affordable to vulnerable community members. A Healthy People 2030 goal is to reduce the amount of families that are spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs.