The lived experience of COVID-19: housing and household resilience

Abstract

AHURI AHURI is a national independent research network with an expert not-for-profit research management company, AHURI Limited, at its centre. AHURI's mission is to deliver high quality research that influences policy development and practice change to improve the housing and urban environments of all Australians. Using high quality, independent evidence and through active, managed engagement, AHURI works to inform the policies and practices of governments and the housing and urban development industries, and stimulate debate in the broader Australian community. AHURI undertakes evidence-based policy development on a range of priority policy topics that are of interest to our audience groups, including housing and labour markets, urban growth and renewal, planning and infrastructure development, housing supply and affordability, homelessness, economic productivity, and social cohesion and wellbeing. AHURI Limited also gratefully acknowledges the contributions, both financial and in-kind, of its university research partners who have helped make the completion of this material possible. Disclaimer The opinions in this report reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of AHURI Limited, its Board, its funding organisations or Inquiry Panel members. No responsibility is accepted by AHURI Limited, its Board or funders for the accuracy or omission of any statement, opinion, advice or information in this publication. AHURI journal AHURI Final Report journal series is a refereed series presenting the results of original research to a diverse readership of policy-makers, researchers and practitioners. Peer review statement An objective assessment of reports published in the AHURI journal series by carefully selected experts in the field ensures that material published is of the highest quality. The AHURI journal series employs a double-blind peer review of the full report, where anonymity is strictly observed between authors and referees.

Effect of Housing Quality on the Mental Health of University Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown

“…For depressive-related symptomatology, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale was adopted [19], assessing the severity of depressive symptoms during the previous two weeks. Among a range score from 0 to 27, the severity could be assessed as normal (0-4), ( 2) mild (5-9), ( 3) moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), (4) moderate/severe (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), and severe (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27).…”

“…The potential benefits of lockdown need to be carefully weighed against the possible impacts on people’s daily life and negative mental health effects, which are exacerbated by duration, difficulties caused by home confinement, fear of infection, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, financial loss, and stigma [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. In fact, such measures emphasized already existing unequal vulnerabilities based on socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., job precarity, age, health, family composition) [ 19 ], but also housing inequalities (e.g., urban form, housing condition, affordability). The global pandemic required millions of people to considerably increase their time spent indoors, worsening mental health conditions, especially in individuals that experienced poor indoor quality settings [ 19 ].…”

“…In fact, such measures emphasized already existing unequal vulnerabilities based on socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., job precarity, age, health, family composition) [ 19 ], but also housing inequalities (e.g., urban form, housing condition, affordability). The global pandemic required millions of people to considerably increase their time spent indoors, worsening mental health conditions, especially in individuals that experienced poor indoor quality settings [ 19 ]. COVID-19 significantly contributed to changed working habits too, with an increased adoption of working solutions that transformed home environments into work environments.…”

Pathways to regional housing recovery from COVID-19

“…• If people had difficulty in accessing housing supply before the pandemic, this exacerbated their likelihood of overcrowded (Buckle, Gurran et al 2020) and substandard accommodation (Buckle, Gurran et al 2020;Horne, Willand et al 2020;Mason, Moran et al 2020) during the pandemic.…”

Health for all by 2030 is within our grasp: we must act now

“…In shining a light on persistent problems, it has heightened dissatisfaction about the lack of progress to redress health inequities, and galvanised the health sector to overcome longstanding policy inertia and drive meaningful change. The pandemic has also highlighted new issues, such as the spatial inequities experienced during stay‐at‐home restrictions by communities and individuals who lack local amenities or adequate space for home‐based learning and working, and residents of high rise apartment buildings with lifts and shared facilities that impede physical distancing 11 …”