Discover the hidden ways stable housing affects your health

Having a home isn't just about having somewhere to sleep. Where you live affects almost every part of your health.

People without housing visit emergency rooms five times more often than those with homes. They also have higher rates of chronic health conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

"Housing is a crucial part of good healthcare," says Susan Blane, community health director for PeaceHealth in Oregon. "When people don't have stable housing, it affects their ability to manage even the most basic physical and mental health needs."

How housing affects your physical health

Managing daily needs and chronic conditions becomes harder

Without a place to live, taking care of your everyday health needs can be a major challenge.

Simple things like showering, washing clothes and brushing your teeth become difficult. Limited access to clean water can lead to skin infections and dental health issues.

Healthcare becomes complicated too. There's no place to send appointment reminders. Pharmacies can't fill prescriptions without an address. Family members may not know how to reach you in a health emergency.

If you have diabetes, high blood pressure or another ongoing health condition, you face even more challenges:

• Keeping medications at the right temperature.
• Storing medical equipment safely and plugging in machines like CPAPs or blood pressure monitors.
• Following doctor-recommended diets without a kitchen.
• Getting enough rest to heal from an illness or injury.

The numbers tell the story. In Oregon and Washington, homeless rates are higher than the national average. Oregon has about 5 people without housing for every 1,000 residents. Washington has nearly 4 people without housing for every 1,000 residents, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Even those who do have housing struggle. In Oregon, people spend 34% of their income on housing costs. In Washington, it's 32%. When you spend more than 30% of your income on housing, experts consider you "housing cost-burdened."

Weather creates other health risks

Living without shelter puts you at risk during extreme weather:

• Winter weather may lead to frostbite or hypothermia.
• The Pacific Northwest's wet climate can cause respiratory infections.
• Summer heat in cars or other confined spaces can cause heat-related illness.

How housing affects your mental health

Stress and anxiety take a toll

It takes enormous mental energy to find food, stay safe and care for basic needs without a home. Not knowing where you'll sleep each night floods your body with stress hormones.

When you're constantly stressed, your immune system can't fight off illness as well. This also increases your risk of heart conditions.

Trauma and isolation compound the issue

Many people without housing have histories of trauma. Experiencing homelessness can create new trauma while making it harder to heal from past experiences.

Without a fixed address, building a support network feels impossible. Friends and family lose touch. This isolation affects mental health and limits your ability to form relationships that help people stay healthy.

Sleep becomes elusive

Good sleep requires safety and quiet. Both are hard to find without housing. This is why people without homes often have chronic sleep challenges. Poor sleep affects everything from your immune system to your mental health.

What communities can do to help

"The connection between housing and health is well established," says Blane. "When we invest in stable housing, we invest in improved health and well-being for the entire community."

Health systems, local governments and community groups are working together to bring housing stability to more people. These efforts include:

• Mobile health clinics that reach people where they are.
• Community health centers that serve uninsured patients.
• Mental health programs designed for people without housing.
• Case management to help people navigate housing and healthcare systems.
• New or expanded shelters and housing access programs.
• Transitional programs for people in need of medical care after leaving the hospital.
• Food banks and meal programs to combat food insecurity.

PeaceHealth is working with community partners to address the problem in many ways. These efforts include a health-and-hygiene services hub in Northwest Washington, an affordable housing development in Southwest Washington, and a transitional housing community in Eugene, Oregon.

"We often say housing is health because it is so vital to thriving," says Rachel Lucy, community health director for PeaceHealth in Northwest Washington. "The unhoused in our communities can be children, veterans, parents or elders — our neighbors. We have to continue working to find solutions to keep people housed."

If you or someone close to you needs immediate help with housing or health needs, reach out to your local social service agency or call 211.