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HOUSING
Housing is the biggest expense for most Americans, and thus housing affordability is a significant factor in financial well-being. Housing stability, quality, safety, and affordability all affect health outcomes, as do physical and social characteristics of neighborhoods. One’s housing situation has serious implications—either positive or negative—on almost every other aspect of life, especially among children. Access to housing is often something passed down in various ways through generations and can be difficult to gain access to otherwise. Homeownership has long been at the center of the American Dream, helping build family wealth and stable, diverse communities. Access to humane housing can determine who thrives and flourishes, and who struggles to survive.
“There is a widespread public perception — and stigma — that most homeless people are unhoused owing to some form of mental illness or habitual abuse of alcohol and other substances. And there can be a connection. About 30 percent of those who are unhoused have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness, ranging from severe depression to schizophrenia to substance use disorders, according to a federal study. But other federal agencies cite lower statistics more in line with the overall American population. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration states that about 21 percent of those who are unhoused deal with mental illness, and about 16 percent have chronic substance abuse problems.”
Featured Resources
Housing and Health: An Overview Of The Literature
Policy Primer: Incorporating Racial Equity into Housing Policy
Policy Primer: Emergency Rental Assistance
Affordable Housing Map
Using American Rescue Plan Funds To Meet Detroiters’ Home Repair Needs
East Side Church Highlights Young Activists During Detroit Neighborhoods Day
LOCAL SERVICES
“...housing and mental health come together. Because if your housing situation does not feel safe and secure, then anxiety builds, depression builds, fear builds. And those things are tied to your mental health. You don’t sleep well. You don’t eat well.”
-Listening Session Participant
Find DATA
Detroit Data Center
Housing Information Portal
City of Detroit Open Data Portal
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