Articles tagged with Housing
A new study published in Public Money & Management suggests that interest-free loan schemes can help prevent homelessness and save local authorities money. The study, funded by the British Academy, details a £85,000 grant scheme in Lewisham, which has helped over 300 families escape eviction and saved the council £1 million.
A smaller city's municipally funded team provided intensive services to chronically homeless individuals, resulting in most residents entering housing and reducing public services usage. However, the program faced challenges in graduating clients to other support programs.
A study on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's RAD program found mostly positive results among residents at three conversion sites in Central California. Residents reported improved unit conditions, safety, and resident resources, but also safety concerns and pest infestations that were not fully resolved.
A pilot program using smartphones to detect asthma triggers is launching in Washington D.C., aiming to improve child well-being and create healthier homes. The project, led by Children's National Hospital, will use video conferencing to identify potential housing triggers with families.
The hospital developed an electronic health record-based model, THRIVE, which facilitates automatic referral information for resources when patients identify unmet social needs. This innovative systematic model helps clinicians better address social determinants of health to improve overall patient health.
A study by University of California San Diego researchers found that optimism, wisdom, and social connections protect against declining cognitive and physical health. Conversely, loneliness increases the risk of mental decline. The findings can inform new interventions for aging populations.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that mice segregate their living and waste areas, suggesting a need for 'en suite bathrooms' in laboratory settings. The study showed that mice create separate compartments for nesting and eliminating waste, moving bedding and materials between cages to maintain comfort.
A recent study by the University of Helsinki found that over half of residents on housing estates want to move away due to economic constraints. Involuntary staying is linked with perceived poor health, stress, and cramped residential arrangements.
A study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that improved housing prevalence doubled from 11% to 23% in sub-Saharan Africa between 2000 and 2015. Despite this progress, 53 million urban Africans still lived in slum conditions in 2015.
A new report suggests that incentivizing downsizing for 'last-time buyers' aged 55+ can ease the UK's housing crisis. The report highlights the role of financial services in expanding mortgage offerings and insurance policies to help older people monetize their housing wealth, thereby funding retirement and covering care costs.
A study suggests that empty homes tax could generate income for local governments and reduce demand from foreign investors to increase housing affordability. Low-use properties are concentrated in desirable areas, where building more homes may not solve the problem.
A new study found that LGBTQ youths are more likely to end up in foster care or unstable housing, suffering negative outcomes such as substance abuse and mental health issues. The research, published in Pediatrics, analyzed data from over 593,000 California youths and revealed that nearly 30% of those living in foster care identified a...
A novel video-based behavioral analysis system, MAPS, shows that group-housed mice form stronger social relationships and are closer in proximity to isolated mice than those reared separately. This study provides insight into the effects of early social experience on adult social behavior.
A study published in Sexually Transmitted Diseases outlines a correlation between America's eviction crisis and the high rate of sexually transmitted infections. Counties with high eviction rates have higher rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea, even after controlling for factors like poverty.
Research finds certain housing types and tenures associated with higher CRP levels, indicating potential link between housing conditions and inflammation. Home owners with mortgages had lower CRP than renters in the private sector.
Food bank users face financial hardship due to benefit penalties and precarious employment. The study found that benefits like under-occupancy penalty or Jobseeker's Allowance cuts cause short-term budgetary crises, often prompting food bank use.
A new case study examines the planning processes behind Chicago's 606 Trail and concludes that nonprofit coordination multiplied gentrification risks due to fragmentation. The trail's $95 million project converted an abandoned rail line into a multi-use path, but ignored displacement concerns and accelerated environmental gentrification
A new model for calculating property tax could help combat Vancouver's housing affordability problem by transferring tax burden from owners to renters. The proposal aims to raise property taxes and lower income and sales taxes, stimulating the economy and making it easier for workers to afford housing.
A University of Kansas researcher investigates how elevated residential buildings performed during Hurricane Michael, finding wind damage could be greater for housing elevated between 3 and 7 feet. The study aims to inform building codes and standards for vulnerable areas, particularly in the mobile home industry.
Research from Children's HealthWatch highlights the importance of access to and effectiveness of programs enabling low-income families to afford basic needs like food, shelter, and medical care. The study found that living in a hardship-free family was associated with good overall health for children and caregivers.
A study found significant racial discrimination in New York City's rental housing market, with Hispanics facing a 28% decrease in landlord responses and 49% lower offer rates compared to whites. Researchers used phone calls from the NYC Commission on Human Rights to test policy interventions.
Research found that affordable housing is linked to health problems like asthma, stress, and alcoholism, especially among higher-income citizens and conservatives, who are more responsive to personal responsibility themes
A Rutgers University study found that elderly housing with supportive social services can significantly reduce hospital admissions and length of stay. The program provided by a nonprofit in Queens, New York, showed lower discharge rates and reduced hospital stays for Medicare beneficiaries.
A Johns Hopkins University study finds that high water bills in low-income areas lead landlords to target vulnerable tenants, increasing eviction rates and restricting affordable housing options. The research reveals how rising water costs and nuisance fees exacerbate the nation's housing crisis.
A UTA study reveals that location significantly affects the affordability of public housing in the DFW region. Housing programs are found to be unaffordable for households due to high transportation costs, which can exceed 15% of their budget.
A new study from Duke University reveals racial wealth inequality is a key contributor to urban unrest. The racial wealth gap has worsened over the past 50 years, with black and Latino households holding significantly less wealth than white households.
A US housing subsidy program may reduce adolescent girls' binge drinking but worsen boys'. The study analyzed 2829 adolescents and found a harmful effect of treatment on boys' binge drinking. The reasons for the gender difference are unclear, but further research is needed to uncover the exact mechanisms.
A comprehensive case study found that Denver's parks don't adequately serve all city residents due to historical zoning codes and funding policies. The study suggests that improving park access for low-income people of color requires working with equity-oriented nonprofits and utilizing publicly owned land.
A new UNLV study reveals that real estate prices for homes in wildfire-prone areas fall initially after a blaze, but rebound within one to two years. The phenomenon may pose a curse, as homebuyers prioritize environmental amenities over fire risk.
Nationwide Children's Hospital has launched an initiative to treat a neighborhood as a patient, targeting 'neighborhood effect syndrome' with housing development and community engagement. The Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families program has seen measurable improvements in housing stock, youth emotional health, academic performance, a...
A UTA research team partners with Unlocking DOORS to provide individualized plans and improve re-entry success rates for former offenders. The project aims to create a framework adaptable to other areas nationwide.
A new study from the University at Buffalo reveals that households in Nairobi's slums receive inferior household services and pay higher rent compared to formal settlements. The double-jeopardy situation highlights the need for significant public financing or combined public-private investments to address housing and infrastructure gaps.
Researchers found that official inflation indexes, such as CPI and PCE, may overestimate or underestimate the true inflation rate due to errors in housing rent assessments. The alternative method suggests an error range of 1.7-4.2% during the Great Recession and 0.3-0.9% during the current expansionary period.
A randomized controlled trial found that paramedic-run health sessions significantly reduced the number of 911 calls and improved quality of life for seniors living in subsidized housing. The program, known as CP@clinic, offered blood pressure and diabetes assessments, as well as referrals to healthcare and education.
A new study finds that Vancouver's construction cycle is leading to increased emissions, even with energy-efficient new homes. The study estimates that new single-family home construction will result in one to three million tonnes of added emissions between 2017-2050.
A new study from Johns Hopkins University finds that increasing rents and declining employment rates disproportionately affected young black adults, causing them to stay with their parents longer. In contrast, white young adults were more likely to delay moving out due to job insecurity.
A new review paper highlights the global scope of the underwater munitions problem, with over a million tons of intact and corroding munitions littering the Baltic and North Seas. The chemicals released from these munitions pose significant risks to marine ecosystems, including carcinogenic and cyto- and genotoxic effects.
Research suggests that cities like Portland and Copenhagen benefit from high-rugosity layouts, with diverse uses and green spaces supporting resilience and growth. By integrating farms and greenways, developers can accommodate more population while reducing the urban heat island effect and improving stormwater management.
A boom in fragile nonbank lenders has put the US mortgage market at risk of another meltdown, warns a new paper. Nonbanks originate half of all US home mortgages and have limited capital and access to cash, making them vulnerable to collapse.
A study by the University of Manchester found that relative deprivation increased among young adults aged 30-59 and infants aged 0-4, while the over-60s experienced a decrease. The researchers attribute this to government policies, education funding, and housing costs increasing relative to real wages.
The study found that WUI area in the coterminous US grew by 33% between 1990 and 2010, with a 41% increase in houses. The areas experiencing wildfires had fewer homes in 1990 compared to 2010, highlighting the growing wildfire risk.
A new study from Massachusetts General Hospital reveals that over 40% of patients treated at community health centers have a history of housing problems. The researchers emphasize the importance of identifying these issues in a clinical setting to initiate referrals for housing assistance and other social services.
A study by the University of Waterloo found that mixed-use developments in Toronto neighbourhoods led to increased costs and reduced social diversity, disproportionately affecting low-income groups. The study suggests that good policy, such as inclusionary zoning and affordable housing trusts, is needed to address these issues.
Experts argue that austerity policies are at the heart of rising homelessness in England, with serious health implications. The number of homeless people has increased significantly since 2010, with families and young people disproportionately affected.
A new study found that one in three low-income renters face housing instability, linked to poor health outcomes and material hardships. Housing instability was associated with increased odds of adverse health outcomes, including poor caregiver health and food insecurity.
A new study led by Rutgers University-Camden researcher Wenhua Lu found that Black adolescents express depressive symptoms through complaints about interpersonal struggles and physical pains. This highlights the need for clinicians to tailor treatments such as interpersonal psychotherapy to address these unique expressions of depression.
A public-private effort in Los Angeles County has reduced emergency medical services, inpatient hospital care, and outpatient health services use among those enrolled in the Housing for Health program. Participants made an average of 1.64 fewer emergency room visits and inpatient hospital stays decreased by more than 4 days.
According to a new study from the University of Pennsylvania, local efforts in residential housing and transportation can significantly reduce CO2 emissions. The researchers found that adopting energy-conservation standards in housing could reduce emissions by 31-46% by 2030, while a fuel-economy standard of 40 mpg could reduce transpo...
A new study reveals that cities can significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by addressing upstream activities such as housing and transportation. By choosing low-carbon construction materials and renewable energy sources, cities can drastically decrease their indirect CO2 emissions. This approach offers local policymakers m...
A Norwegian research team found that energy efficiency labeling for homes has no significant effect on purchase price. The researchers conducted a thorough analysis of home sales data before and after the labeling system was introduced in Norway in 2010. They discovered that any apparent impact of the label was likely due to other fact...
Hospitals investing in affordable housing can reduce emergency room visits and costly interventions, saving taxpayer dollars. By combining housing with wraparound services, hospitals can build healthy communities where families can thrive financially and physically.
A new study by MIT researchers found that cities can reduce urban emissions primarily through better building practices, not greater housing density. Implementing energy-efficient construction standards and retrofitting existing homes can lower residential emissions by up to 19% by 2030.
Research at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona suggests that green gentrification in cities may not equally benefit all residents, particularly socially disadvantaged neighbours. The process of recovering natural spaces tends to displace low-income populations, increasing chronic stress and negatively affecting their mental health.
Research reveals that nearly half of colonia residents live in severely overcrowded environments with poor infrastructure, leading to chronic diseases and mental health issues. The study aims to raise awareness about the need for public policies and interventions to buffer the effects of poverty on these communities.
The project aims to tackle one of the root causes of asthma flare-ups: substandard housing conditions that play host to a range of asthma triggers. IMPACT DC has targeted kids and families disconnected from primary care, increasing school attendance and decreasing Emergency Department visits.
Researchers found that low-income households living in subsidized housing are exposed to hazardous chemicals from building materials and personal care products. The study highlights the need for broader green building standards to address indoor air pollution, particularly in vulnerable communities.
A recent grant of $1.8 million will support research on mixed-income community-building, with a focus on promoting social equity and inclusion in US cities. The funding will enable the National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities (NIMC) to launch an innovation network and profile exemplary initiatives.
A Finnish study found that males with Arabic names face significant discrimination in the rental housing market, receiving responses only 16% of the time, compared to 42% for females with Finnish names. The study highlights the challenges faced by migrant communities in integrating into their host societies.
A study by Hirojuki Hikichi and colleagues found that group relocation increased informal socializing and social participation among older adults. Nearly three years after the disaster, respondents who relocated with their community showed increases in meeting with friends and participating in sports clubs.
The Gulf Research Program and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded $10.8 million to support four projects enhancing community resilience in Louisiana and Alabama. The projects will increase understanding of community attributes influencing resilience and develop tools for strengthening community capacity.