University of Houston report finds housing instability drives poor mental health

Key findings include:

• 33% of residents surveyed experienced moderate perceived stress
• 60% experienced mild anxiety
• 17% experienced mild to moderate depression

Notable quote

“Housing isn’t just shelter—it’s the platform on which the rest of life is built,” Cortina said. “When that platform is shaky, everything else gets harder: holding a job, raising children, managing a chronic illness, staying connected to neighbors. What we’re seeing in Fort Bend County is that instability shows up in residents’ mental health long before it shows up in any single eviction or foreclosure number.”

Looking ahead

Report authors said improving mental health in Fort Bend County will require coordination between housing stability and conditions that make stability meaningful. Recommendations include treating housing as a front-line health investment.