324592
Targeting policies to address the changing nature of housing insecurity over space and time in Los Angeles
Background. Housing is considered to be a key social determinant of health, and policies that enable precarious housing for individuals can have a harmful effect on health outcomes and well being. Little is known about geographic distribution of housing insecurity and in Los Angeles and the way neighborhoods are uniquely impacted by financial recessions.
Objectives. This study assesses the impact of the 2008- 2009 economic recession on the spatial distribution of housing insecurity in Los Angeles.
Methods. Spatial data were mapped using QGIS software to visually represent the proportion of renters and owners spending more than 30%, 40% and 50% of their income on rent for the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 across Los Angeles county. Demographic data were added to analyze how these trends vary by race, gender, and age. This study uses data from the American Community Survey by census tracts for five years to show trends over time in the distribution of precariously housed individuals and neighborhoods.
Results. Results indicate that particular neighborhoods in Los Angeles county were more substantially impacted by the 2008-2009 market collapse than others and this study visually portrays the burden of risk given to systematically vulnerable neighborhoods in the county. Finally, a range of policy solutions are presented and discussed in terms of their potential efficacy to meet the challenges of unequal geographic and demographic risk of homelessness during and after recessions in Los Angeles.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and cultureEpidemiology
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health
Learning Objectives:
Assess the geographic changes in housing security over time in Los Angeles
Explain the impact of precarious housing for neighborhoods with a high proportion of minority residents, and a high proportion of female-headed households
Analyze policy solutions to protect vulnerable neighborhoods from increasing housing insecurity
Keyword(s): Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Homelessness
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I worked as a research coordinator on homelessness and housing insecurity research studies for many years before starting my PhD. Additionally, my research in graduate school has been focused on the housing first model, income security, and policies that protect precariously housed individuals. I have developed GIS mapping and analytic skills in this time, and am passionate about visually representing changes in housing that produce poor health outcomes.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.