Childhood Housing Assistance and Adult Health: Life Course Critical Periods and Cumulative Impact

Poverty-related housing needs during childhood increase the risk of chronic health conditions as an adult. Government housing assistance assists about 5 million low income families with those poverty-related housing needs on a population- wide scale. However, prior research has not investigated whether housing assistance during childhood mitigates the impact of childhood poverty-related housing needs on the development of adult chronic health conditions. Ginther is working on this project with Children’s Mercy Hospital principal investigator Dr. Jeffrey M. Colvin.