A report from the University of Houston shows housing instability is a consistent predictor of poor health outcomes among Fort Bend County residents.
The report, titled Housing Instability and Mental Health, was authored by Jeronimo Cortina, a professor in the department of political science at UH, in partnership with Fort Bend County Health & Human Services and PolicyMap, according to a May 1 news release.
The details
Following a countywide survey, the study shows that affordability pressures, unstable occupancy and unsafe or substandard conditions raise residents’ risk of stress, depression and anxiety, per the release.
Key findings include:
- 33% of residents surveyed experienced moderate perceived stress
- 60% experienced mild anxiety
- 17% experienced mild to moderate depression
However, the risks are not evenly distributed, with some ZIP codes seeing higher levels of housing instability and mental health crossover.
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.
