Women, Housing, and Health : A Canadian Study
Reported July 11, 2011,
A Housing is an increasingly serious health issue for women. With escalating poverty in Canada and throughout the world, there are growing numbers of women who are, if not homeless, then vulnerably or precariously housed*. And recent research shows that similar health issues afflict women whether they are homeless or vulnerably housed.
Because they tend to have higher levels of poverty, the women most affected by housing issues are Aboriginal, people of colour, immigrants or refugees, disabled, senior or youth.
The health problems that result from lack of stable housing are many and severe. Poor housing places women at higher risk for chronic and infectious diseases and premature death. They are often homeless because of a history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. When pregnant, they arent likely to get prenatal care or family planning advice or services. Many suffer from mental health problems and substance abuse disorders. They are three times more likely than men in the same housing conditions to commit suicide, and six times more than women with adequate housing. Homeless women are at extreme risk of being targets of sexual assault and other forms of violence. At the same time, they suffer more from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as a host of other gynaecological problems.
Finally, while all homeless people face considerable barriers to accessing health care, women face additional obstacles. This is because many services to the homeless have been developed for men, and are inappropriate for homeless women and their children.
* Vulnerably-housed, precariously-housed and marginally-housed are all terms that refer to people whose housing is not secure. It can refer to people who have housing now but who have lived on the street or moved at least twice in the past year. They may also spend at least 50% of their income on poor, crowded and/or unsafe housing. For detailed Report Check out at: http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/pdf/crich/housing-vulnerability-and-health.pdf