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Denary W, Fenelon A, Whittaker S, Esserman D, Lipska KJ, Keene DE. Rental assistance improves food security and nutrition: An analysis of National Survey Data. Prev Med 2023; 169:107453. [PMID: 36813247 PMCID: PMC10037672 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
The U.S. is experiencing a severe housing affordability crisis, resulting in households having to make difficult trade-offs between paying for a place to live and basic health necessities such as food. Rental assistance may mitigate these strains, improving food security and nutrition. However, only one in five eligible individuals receive assistance, with an average wait time of two years. Existing waitlists create a comparable control group, allowing us to examine the causal impact of improved housing access on health and well-being. This national quasi-experimental study utilizes linked NHANES-HUD data (1999-2016) to investigate the impacts of rental assistance on food security and nutrition using cross-sectional regression. Tenants with project-based assistance were less likely to experience food insecurity (B = -0.18, p = 0.02) and rent-assisted individuals consumed 0.23 more cups of daily fruits and vegetables compared the pseudo-waitlist group. These findings suggest that the current unmet need for rental assistance and resulting long waitlists have adverse health implications, including decreased food security and fruit and vegetable consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney Denary
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Andrew Fenelon
- School of Public Policy and Department of Sociology and Criminology, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Shannon Whittaker
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Denise Esserman
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kasia J Lipska
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Danya E Keene
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
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Gabrielian S, Koosis ER, Cohenmehr J, Hellemann G, Tuepker A, Green MF, Vazzano JK, Young AS. Factors associated with recovery from homelessness among veterans in permanent supportive housing. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 50:2144-2162. [PMID: 34862803 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
AIMS We sought to identify person- and program-level factors distinguishing permanent supportive housing (PSH) residents with higher versus lower social integration; and higher versus lower instrumental functioning. METHODS Among 60 PSH residents at Los Angeles' VA, surveys and medical records captured person-level factors. Using a median split, we dichotomized participants with higher versus lower social integration; and higher versus lower instrumental functioning. Recursive partitioning (RP) identified variables that best-differentiated these subgroups. Interviews with 26 participants captured their perceptions on social integration and instrumental functioning. RESULTS Using RP, health-related quality of life, psychiatric symptoms and case management frequency best-differentiated the social integration subgroups. Few perceived that PSH affected social integration. RP did not yield a stable model to differentiate the instrumental functioning subgroups; participants perceived that PSH addressed most functional deficits. CONCLUSIONS Services that enhance social integration may benefit PSH residents with poor health; existing services may adequately address instrumental functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonya Gabrielian
- Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, VA Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ella R Koosis
- Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jennifer Cohenmehr
- Department of Psychiatry, VA Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Gerhard Hellemann
- Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Anaïs Tuepker
- VA HSR&D Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, VA Portland Health Care, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Michael F Green
- Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jesse K Vazzano
- Care Management and Social Work, VA Western Colorado Health Care System, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
| | - Alexander S Young
- Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, VA Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Harris T, Semborski S, Rhoades H, Wenzel S. Service utilisation changes in the transition to permanent supportive housing: The role of the housing environment and case management. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:e781-e792. [PMID: 34145674 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study examines whether routine, low-cost service use changes in the transition from homelessness to permanent supportive housing (PSH) and explores whether housing model, neighbourhood and level of case management engagement affect utilisation of routine services. Data come from a prospective longitudinal study of adults experiencing homelessness who entered PSH in Los Angeles between 2014 and 2016 and participated in four interviews: pre-housing (i.e., while experiencing homelessness), and 3, 6 and 12 months after move-in. Mixed effects logistic regression assessed the effects of demographics, case management, housing model and neighbourhood location on service utilisation at each time point across five domains: basic needs, financial, educational, mental health and physical health. Longitudinal unmet need for services and onsite service use contextualised findings. Service utilisation significantly decreased at each time point in the domains of basic needs, financial and mental health. Neighbourhood was significantly associated with basic needs and mental health service use, while housing model was associated with financial service utilisation. Case management was associated with all service use outcomes with all relationships demonstrating more case management visits was associated with greater odds of routine service utilisation. Unmet service needs were consistent over time. Onsite service utilisation was low across all residents. Results indicate that routine service use declines with length of tenancy while unmet need for services remain prevalent. Case management appears to be critical in facilitating routine service use, while the housing environment should be considered to ensure residents have accessible and proximal routine care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Harris
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of School Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- US Department of Veteran's Affairs, National Center on Homelessness among Veterans, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sara Semborski
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of School Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Harmony Rhoades
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of School Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Suzanne Wenzel
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of School Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Tiderington E, Aykanian A, Huang B, Tsai J. Change in housing environment and residential satisfaction following exit from permanent supportive housing. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 49:305-320. [PMID: 33053205 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Moving On initiatives (MOIs) transition stable permanent supportive housing (PSH) residents into mainstream housing without embedded services. While this approach frees up PSH for homeless individuals in need, open questions remain regarding MOI recipients' long-term outcomes. This exploratory study examines how housing environment and residential satisfaction, potential predictors of housing retention, change from PSH to mainstream housing. Subjective assessments of housing and neighborhood quality and residential satisfaction, as well as objective neighborhood-level data, are used to examine housing-related change for New York City MOI recipients. Participants generally moved to less-distressed neighborhoods with lower poverty and crime. Subjective perceptions of some aspects of neighborhood and housing quality also improved post-move. Participants tended to move farther from public transportation but were on average located within one mile of the nearest subway station. Results can be taken as early indicators of the potential benefits of MOIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmy Tiderington
- School of Social Work, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Amanda Aykanian
- School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Billy Huang
- School of Management, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jack Tsai
- School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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