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Chicago study finds individual housing dramatically reduced coronavirus rates in at-risk people experiencing homelessness

A Chicago study found that providing individual hotel rooms and medical support to high-risk homeless individuals reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection rates by 75% compared to citywide rates in shelters. The intervention also led to improvements in health measures such as blood pressure and glycemic control, with over half of participants movi...

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 13, 2021

New study finds COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated anxiety and depression in racial and ethnic minority children

A new study has revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on urban, racial, and ethnic minority children aged five to 11 years old. The research found increased rates of depression and anxiety problems among these children compared to before the pandemic, with rates rising from 5 percent to 18 percent.

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health·DateDec 8, 2021

The health of homeless people improves with socialisation

A new study from the University of the Basque Country found that social interaction and contact with family members have a significant positive impact on homeless people's perception of their health. Conversely, longer periods of homelessness and reduced social connections are associated with poorer health perceptions.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateDec 3, 2021

New index tracks US state progress on promoting the health and well-being of older populations for the first time

A new index ranks US states based on their support for successful aging across five domains: productivity, security, equity, cohesion, and well-being. The study found that no single domain drives the results, and state policies play a significant role in adapting to an aging population.

Experiences in prison reduce perceptions of corrections officers’ fairness, regardless of time served

A new study found that most incarcerated individuals' in-prison experiences lessen their perceptions of procedural justice and fairness, regardless of the length of time served. The research used a nationally representative sample of over 31,000 adults and examined various in-prison experiences on inmates' perceptions of staff members'...

SourceCrime and Justice Research Alliance·JournalJustice Quarterly·DateOct 22, 2021

Machine learning can be fair and accurate

A recent study published in Nature Machine Intelligence challenges the long-held assumption that accuracy and fairness are mutually exclusive in machine learning. Researchers found that optimizing models for accuracy does not necessarily compromise fairness, particularly when adjustments are made to data, labels, and scoring systems.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·DateOct 20, 2021

Housing status influenced pandemic mental health issues

Research from the University of Georgia found that individuals living in multifamily housing units were more likely to experience mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Renters had higher odds of experiencing mental health issues due to factors such as tighter living quarters, financial anxieties, and lack of control over...

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateOct 4, 2021

Study suggests solutions to criminal justice involvement among people experiencing homelessness, serious mental illness

A new study from Simon Fraser University found that nearly 60% of people experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness in Metro Vancouver have had a criminal conviction. The study identified factors associated with criminal convictions, including irregular income assistance payments, drug addiction, and psychiatric hospitalization.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 19, 2021

Prisons and COVID-19

The study found COVID-19 incidence was significantly higher in Massachusetts prisons operating at a higher percentage of their capacity. In contrast, prisons with more single-cell housing had lower infection rates.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateAug 9, 2021

Residential mobility is key social determinant of health in people with spinal cord injury

Researchers found that one in four people with spinal cord injury relocated over a five-year period, often to high-poverty areas, increasing health risks. The study highlights the importance of considering residential mobility as a key social determinant of health for this population.

SourceKessler Foundation·JournalArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 9, 2021

Slam the door shut: Improving building energy by evaluating building airflow

Scientists from Incheon National University identified interzonal airflow across household entrance doors as a dominant factor in calculating heating loads. They found that strong stack effect and weather-driven airflow rates were larger than external infiltration rates, making conventional airtightness measures unreliable.

SourceIncheon National University·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 9, 2021

City-funded housing repairs in low-income neighborhoods associated with drop in crime

Investing in structural home repairs in historically segregated, low-income neighborhoods has been associated with reduced crime rates and improved public health. Research from the University of Pennsylvania found that total crime dropped by 21.9% on blocks where homes received repairs through a city-funded program.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 21, 2021

Das researching use of artificial intelligence

A team of researchers, led by Sanmay Das from George Mason University, is exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to develop novel methods for allocating scarce housing support to at-risk households. The goal is to improve service system outcomes and prevent homelessness, while ensuring fairness and equity.

What is driving reductions in residential greenhouse gas emissions in the US?

A Yale School of Environment study found that efficiencies in new home construction, energy consumption, and household appliances have contributed to lower emissions, but other factors may cancel out progress. The researchers suggest shifting from single-family housing to multi-family housing could reduce energy demand by up to 47%.

SourceYale School of the Environment·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMay 5, 2021

How housing discrimination affects environmental inequality

A University of Illinois study reveals racial discrimination in the home-renting process actively sorts minority renters into neighborhoods with higher levels of pollution. This leads to disparities in residential pollution exposures and contributes to health issues like respiratory illnesses and stress.

Smaller plates help reduce food waste in campus dining halls

A University of Illinois study found that shifting from round to oval plates with smaller surface areas can significantly reduce food waste in dining halls. The researchers observed significant reductions in food selection, consumption, and waste when diners used the oval plates, resulting in nearly 20 grams less food waste per plate.

Gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots' widened by the COVID pandemic, an IU study found

A new IU study reveals that women, younger individuals, those with lower education levels, and people of color are disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The research found significant disparities in economic hardship, including food insecurity, unemployment, and housing issues among historically disadvantaged groups.

SourceIndiana University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 5, 2021

Historically redlined neighborhoods are more likely to lack greenspace today

Neighborhoods historically redlined by racist mortgage practices in the 1930s are more likely to have limited green spaces. This is associated with elevated air pollution, higher rates of poverty, and worse health outcomes for residents. The study highlights the persistent effects of redlining policies on urban neighborhoods.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·DateJan 27, 2021

Living alone may increase risk of dying after hip fracture

A new study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research found that living alone after experiencing a hip fracture may further elevate this risk. Living alone was associated with a 37% higher risk of death in men and a 23% higher risk in women, compared to those living with a partner.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·DateJan 6, 2021

Predicting urban water needs

A Stanford University study uses Zillow and census data to identify residential water use patterns and trends in different community groupings. The research found that income levels do not always correlate with water usage, and that changing community development can impact water consumption patterns.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 18, 2020

Losing the American Dream

A recent study published in Demography found that Black homeowners are twice as likely to lose their homes compared to white homeowners, with kin network wealth and poverty accounting for a significant portion of the gap. The researchers examined the impact of trigger events and found that having impoverished relatives can be a burden,...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalDemography·DateNov 11, 2020