Housing insecurity in the United States

[7] The Center for Disease Control used the frequency of responses to the question of, "How often in the past 12 months would you say you were worried or stressed about having enough money to pay your rent/mortgage?

As housing expenses rose in 2021, households with incomes under $30,000 had little money left over after paying for utilities and rent - only approximately $380 per month, down from nearly $600 two decades earlier.

They define adequate housing as having security of tenure, availability of services, materials, facilities and infrastructure, affordability, habitability, accessibility, location, and cultural adequacy.

The characteristics that most frequently made units deemed extremely inadequate were shared plumbing facilities (55%) and unacceptably long cold periods (29%).

[20] One sociologist argues that "female-headed households are systematically disadvantaged by a vast network of intersecting sexist, racist, and classist inequalities and institutional practices and policies (e.g., unequal and low pay, unpaid caregiving, lack of affordable housing, discrimination, a weak safety net, punitive welfare and public housing policies) that contribute to homelessness".

[21] This term signifies how the balance has shifted unfavorably in recent years with respect to the disproportionate impact on women and children of systemic factors leading to homelessness.

Additionally, shortcomings in the service of legal and advocacy systems for IPV survivors play a part in reinforcing the status quo of power dynamics in relation to gender.

[21] This can hinder women's ability to achieve financial stability and housing security, while at the same time failing to hold men accountable.

More broadly, members of the LGBTQ community are also a group that faces unequal risk factors associated with housing insecurity.

[23] Many unhoused LGBTQ folks are young adults who have been "asked to leave from their previous living arrangement" due to their identities not being viewed as acceptable.

[23] Coastal communities have, on average, higher displacement risks from climate change impacts such as sea-level rise, hurricanes and other related weather events.

Despite these implications with research, findings across the board suggest housing insecurity is a negative risk factor when it pertains to health and educational attainment.

In a study that analyzed data from the 2011 Washington State Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System, 29.4% of the 8,416 respondents reported being housing insecure.

[24] Other health outcomes that have been associated with housing insecurity by past studies include: probable GAD, depression, and PTSD.

[25] A longitudinal study assessed the academic achievements of children suggesting there is a link between housing insecurity and performance in school.

Researchers reported that homeless and highly mobil children were more likely to be at risk for low academic achievement compared to other students.

[26] Some scholars conclude the aforementioned achievement gaps with homeless and highly mobile students tend to be chronic and "may worsen among older grade cohorts.

[28] One source of assistance is locally located public housing agencies (PHAs) that distribute section 8 vouchers.

Most families that qualify are put on a waitlist, and once they get a voucher, they must be able to find their own housing, and it must meet the safety requirements of the PHA.

Local governments regulate out entry level housing with square foot requirements, zoning ordinances, and permits.