Understanding the Connections Between Children’s Mental Health & Housing

A growing body of literature affirms that where children live affects not only their physical health but their mental and emotional health as well.

By focusing the power of people working to address issues related to housing, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette syndrome, and children’s mental health, we can improve the mental health of young people and reduce many of the challenges that prevent children from living in safe, stable, and affordable homes. Improving housing choices for children and their families may require policy options that . . .

• Improve protections from eviction and foreclosure,
• Strengthen housing standards and code enforcement practices,
• Increase financial assistance for creation and preservation of affordable housing, and
• Reform exclusionary land use.

To support people and organizations that are collaborating on efforts to improve housing and children’s mental health, this fact sheet provides . . .

• An overview of several pathways through which housing affects children’s mental health,
• Housing policy options that can help to address common challenges, and
• Action steps for anyone who wants to promote children’s mental health and well-being through housing.