Housing Policies and Health Inequalities

Marc Marí-Dell'Olmo, Ana M. Novoa, Lluís Camprubí, Andrés Peralta, Hugo Vásquez-Vera, Jordi Bosch, Jordi Amat, Fernando Díaz, Laia Palència, Roshanak Mehdipanah, Maica Rodríguez-Sanz, Davide Malmusi, Carme Borrell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

A large body of literature shows the link between inadequate housing conditions and poor physical and mental health. The aim of this paper is to summarize the research on the impact of local housing policies on health inequalities, focusing on the issues of access to housing and fuel poverty as studied in the SOPHIE project. Our case studies in Spain showed that people facing housing insecurity, experienced intense levels of mental distress. We found that access to secure and adequate housing can improve the health of these populations, therefore, public policies that address housing instability and their consequences are urgently needed. Housing conditions related to fuel poverty are associated with poorer health and are unevenly distributed across Europe. We found possible positive effects of façade insulation interventions on cold-related mortality in women living in social housing; but not in men. Policies on housing energy efficiency can reduce the health consequences of fuel poverty, but need to be free to users, target the most vulnerable groups and be adaptable to their needs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)207-232
Number of pages26
JournalInternational Journal of Health Services
Volume47
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • cold housing
  • energy efficiency
  • evaluation studies
  • eviction
  • foreclosure
  • fuel poverty
  • housing affordability
  • housing instability
  • mental health
  • mortality
  • retrofitting
  • self-related health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health Policy

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