Exploring the bi-directional relationship between health and housing in Australia

Abstract

Over the last decade, Australia has experienced ongoing housing affordability decline, and this has been experienced unevenly across the population. Because housing affordability directly affects the type, quality and security of housing that individuals can access, it represents both an important potential source and symptom of disadvantage in Australia. This article examines the nature of the relationship between housing affordability and a central human right—health. It asks two essential questions for Australian policymakers: does poor health predict unaffordable housing? Moreover, does unaffordable housing influence individual health? Analysis was based upon the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. We highlight key populations who are most vulnerable to housing affordability problems such as lone parents, their children and older renters, and consider the potential bi-directionality of the pathways between housing affordability and health. We find new, compelling evidence to suggest that such a bi-directional relationship exists between housing affordability and health (especially mental health) in Australia—suggesting that health may influence affordable housing outcomes, while housing affordability may also predict health outcomes. This work opens up new avenues for more causally focused future research in the area.