Losing Your Home Is Bad for Your Health: Short- and Medium-Term Health Effects of Eviction on Young Adults

Citation

Hatch, Megan E. & Yun, Jinhee (2020). Losing Your Home Is Bad for Your Health: Short- and Medium-Term Health Effects of Eviction on Young Adults. Housing Policy Debate. pp. 1-21

Abstract

U.S. cities are increasingly adopting antieviction policies predicated on the belief that evictions have negative consequences for families and communities. Yet the nature and duration of many of these consequences are relatively unknown. We add to the literature on the consequences of evictions by assessing the enduring effects of eviction on the self-reported health of young adults. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), we find evictions have both short-term (12 months) and medium-term (7-8 years) negative impacts on multiple measures of health. Individuals who experience an eviction are more likely to report being in poor general health or experiencing mental health concerns, even many years after an eviction. As state and local governments develop policies to reduce evictions, it is worth noting that any resulting decrease in evictions may have a positive impact on population health, making health professionals effective potential policymaking partners.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.2020.1812690

Keyword(s)

eviction

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Housing Policy Debate

Author(s)

Hatch, Megan E.
Yun, Jinhee

Year Published

2020

Pages

1-21

ISSN/ISBN

1051-1482

DOI

10.1080/10511482.2020.1812690

Reference ID

6034