What Is the Definition of Inadequate Shelter

09 dec What Is the Definition of Inadequate Shelter

More than 1.8 billion people live in informal settlements or inadequate housing with limited access to basic services such as water and sanitation, electricity and are often at risk of eviction. And one of the most serious violations of the right to adequate housing – homelessness – has risen sharply in many economically advanced countries. In the 2009 survey, Hispanic female households (7.4%) were significantly less likely than Hispanic households (8.1%) to live in inadequate housing (Table 1). Non-Hispanic Black women`s households were significantly more likely than non-Hispanic white women`s households to live in substandard dwellings in 2007 and 2009 (OR = 1.3 and 1.4, respectively) (Table 2). Although the likelihood of a Hispanic woman living in inadequate housing decreased from 2007 to 2009, the odds were still increased (OR = 1.9 and 1.8, respectively) (Table 1). † Substandard housing: features (in addition to inadequate housing) that are detrimental to the health of residents (e.g., rodents recently seen in the unit, leakage in the past 12 months, peeling paint, or lack of a working smoke alarm). Established research institutions work with inner-city communities to study the effects of inadequate housing and raise awareness of the dangers and steps that can be taken to make homes safer. Tufts University, Harvard University and Boston University worked with community leaders to study housing conditions and health in the Boston, Massachusetts area. The investigation found high rates of hyperthermia alternating with periods of excessive hypothermia, leading tenants to rely on gas stoves for heating and increase levels of chemical contaminants in the home. These temperature fluctuations, in addition to mold, water damage and widespread pest infestations, coincided with extremely high asthma rates, leading researchers to speculate a causal relationship.11 For more on inadequate accommodations, see Home is where we want to feel safe. Access to a safe and comfortable “home”, as a necessary shelter, source of identification, and place of rest and relaxation, is both a psychological and physical necessity.2 The current culture of fear and isolation has led many families, especially those living in crowded urban environments, to seek safety behind hermetically sealed doors of the home. Although more and more research is being conducted on the immediate health consequences of national environmental risks, very little is understood about long-term health outcomes. What is known is that even the smallest positive change in health outcomes can have a huge impact on the community.3 As studies continue, it is essential to support grassroots efforts in the fight to address and eliminate the environmental threats posed by substandard and inadequate housing.

TABLE 1 — Selected characteristics of households* with inadequate housing† — American Housing Survey, United States, 2007 and 2009 The proportion of housing units classified as inadequate in the United States was 5.2% in 2009, unchanged from 2007 (Table 1). Women were 1.1 times more likely to have inadequate housing than men`s households. In 2009, non-Hispanic Blacks by race or ethnicity were the most likely to have homeowners living in inadequate housing (2.3), followed by Hispanics (2.0), Native Americans/Alaskans (1.9) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.1) compared to non-Hispanic Whites. § The total number of inadequate households in this category does not match the total number of inhabited dwelling units, as the multiracial/unknown race category was excluded. Strong efforts to reduce inequalities in access to healthy housing will lead directly to a reduction in health inequalities. Of the approximately 110 million housing units in the United States, about 5.8 million are considered inadequate and 23.4 million are considered unhealthy. Inadequate and substandard housing disproportionately affects population groups with the least resources (e.g., low-income and poorly educated). Significant steps are needed to reduce the overall proportion of inadequate and substandard housing among these people. The results presented in this report can help organizations target prevention programs and interventions for these populations.

The physical and social nature of the urban environment fosters this isolation. The local markets offer cheap junk food, alcohol, sodas and cigarettes near you and at any time. The amount of television watched by each member of a family continues to increase, and in addition, individuals sit alone and sedentary, watching separate shows in separate rooms and eating from oversized bags of chips. Interaction, even between close-knit families, is discouraged. The definition of inadequate housing refers to the basic structure and systems of housing, while the definition of substandard housing is related to exposure to toxins and other environmental factors. Inadequate housing is defined as living quarters that have moderate or severe physical problems (e.g., deficiencies in plumbing, heating, electricity, hallways, and maintenance) (5,6). Examples of moderate physical problems in a unit include two or more toilet failures that lasted >6 months, unventilated primary heaters, or lack of complete kitchen equipment in the unit. Serious physical problems include lack of hot or cold running water, lack of a working toilet, and exposed cables. (The specific algorithm used to categorize a unit as insufficient has been published elsewhere [6]). For the purposes of this report, the CDC defined an unhealthy lifestyle as the presence of additional features that could negatively impact the health of its residents, including signs of rodents, water leaks, peeling paint in homes built before 1978, and the lack of a working smoke detector. Other indicators of substandard housing, such as poor air quality due to mould or radon, are not measured by African horse sickness and are therefore not included in the analysis.

This report should include estimates of the percentage of inhabited housing units classified as inadequate or unhealthy based on selected household demographics. Estimates of the relative disparity in the percentage of households living in inadequate housing by sex, race/ethnicity, annual income, highest level of education, geographic area and disability are presented as unadjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Since replica weights are not published, unadjusted odds ratios are the best available estimates, and CIs were calculated using the probability weights contained in the dataset. This calculation method is the best method available, but its use cannot determine the sampling error associated with the sampling design, and the method could overestimate the variance, making the AI narrower. To determine statistical significance between years or within a category, the RNs for each variable were compared. If the odds ratio (OR) was not within the confidence interval for the following year or another variable, the difference was considered statistically significant.