Does receiving subsidized housing affect mental health?

Does receiving subsidized housing affect mental health?

Results from a natural experiment in the Greater Toronto West

Dr. Jim Dunn, Professor and Chair, Department of Health, Aging and Society; McMaster University Director, McMaster Institute for Healthier Environments, will present his findings regarding the effects of subsidized housing on the mental health of individuals in Hamilton, Halton, Peel and Toronto who were on the waitlist for social housing.

Housing is often described as an important social determinant of health, but there are few studies that have assessed this directly. In this talk, Dr. Dunn will present findings from a study of 504 people who were on the waitlist for social housing in Hamilton, Halton, Peel or Toronto; some of whom received subsidized, or ‘social’ housing, and some of whom did not. The findings suggest that the health of people on the waitlist for social housing is quite poor, and that there is evidence of reductions in psychological distress and other positive outcomes for people who receive subsidized housing. The presentation will include a discussion of how social housing policy and practice could be improved to have a greater impact on people’s health.

Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Time: 10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.
Place: L. R. Wilson Hall (LRW), Room 2001

All are welcome!