Synthesizing the links between secure housing tenure and health for more equitable cities

Abstract

Millions of households in rich and poor countries alike are at risk of being unwilfully displaced from their homes or the land on which they live (i.e., lack secure tenure), and the urban poor are most vulnerable. Improving housing tenure security may be an intervention to improve housing and environmental conditions and reduce urban health inequalities. Building on stakeholder workshops and a narrative review of the literature, we developed a conceptual model that infers the mechanisms through which more secure housing tenure can improve housing, environmental quality, and health. Empirical studies show that more secure urban housing tenure can boost economic mobility, improve housing and environmental conditions including reduced exposure to pollution, create safer and more resourced communities, and improve physical and mental health. These links are shared across tenure renters and owners and different economic settings. Broader support is needed for context-appropriate policies and actions to improve tenure security as a catalyst for cultivating healthier homes and neighbourhoods and reducing urban health inequalities in cities.

Exploring the association between housing insecurity and mental health among renters: A systematic review

“…The findings of this review contribute to the growing body of research on the social determinants of mental health (Baumgartner et al, 2023; Compton & Shim, 2015; Lund et al, 2018; Marmot & Wilkinson, 2005; Shaw, 2004; Suglia et al, 2015; Swope & Hernández, 2019; WHO & Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 2014). The review provides strong evidence to support an association between housing insecurity and impaired mental health, with a substantial number of studies addressing each dimension, i.e.…”

“…According to the World Health Organization (WHO), social determinants, encompassing the conditions in which individuals are born, grow, work, live, and age, contribute to severe health inequalities within contemporary societies (WHO & Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 2014). Housing is widely recognized as a significant social determinant influencing mental health and contributing to public health challenges (Baumgartner et al, 2023; Compton & Shim, 2015; Lund et al, 2018; Marmot & Wilkinson, 2005; Shaw, 2004; Suglia et al, 2015; Swope & Hernández, 2019). Housing insecurity is a global phenomenon, which exposes individuals to various forms of challenges, including unaffordable housing, poor housing conditions, a lack of stable tenure, and homelessness (DeLuca & Rosen, 2022; Eurostat, 2022; Prindex, 2020; United Nations, 2020).…”

“…A factor driving this shift was the sudden rise in the number of renters, particularly within the private rental sector, in highlZlincome countries traditionally dominated by homeownership, such as Australia (Hulse & Yates, 2017), the United Kingdom (UK; Bone, 2014), and the United States of America (U.S.; Crook & Kemp, 2014). Worldwide, renters face various pressures, including constrained housing markets, rising rental costs, and the associated challenges of finding affordable, stable, and suitable housing (Baumgartner et al, 2023; Bone, 2014; Clair et al, 2019; Eurostat, 2022; Routhier, 2019). These challenges have been further reinforced by recent societal upheavals such as the COVID-19 pandemic, related social and economic lockdowns, and the energy crisis (Baker, Bentley, et al, 2020; Oswald et al, 2022; Waldron, 2022).…”