Ginot, Luc
Housing Conditions and Perceived Health: A Study Based on Applications for Public Housing
- 2010.
80
Poor living conditions and insanitary housing are important social determinants of health. This study examines health-related elements and risk factors linked to deteriorated housing as they appear in applications and requests for social housing from the tenants in Aubervilliers (93). 234 letters were analyzed, of which 50.4% mentioned a health problem related to habitat or housing. Somatic health problems and mental health problems, as well as problems related to well-being, are each present in at least a quarter of the cases. Half of the letters mention a sanitation problem; over-occupancy is abundant. The physical health problems seem to be linked to the unhealthy conditions and sanitation issues, while those of mental health and well-being are more closely related to the presence of high rates of over-occupancy. Despite the preliminary and empirical nature of this data collection process, the data confirm the necessity of addressing the link between housing conditions, requests for housing, and perceived health.