Housing access as HIV care and prevention -s/a

Background/Objectives: Growing evidence indicates that housing is a critical and effective strategy to improve public and individual health. This study aims to assess which individual characteristics predict greater access to rental subsidies and supportive housing and begins to explore some of the barriers to housing.

Methods: 392 low-income residents of Hartford and East Hartford, Connecticut were recruited through a targeted sampling plan. We used six logistic regressions to explore multiple housing access outcomes including who receives information on, who applies for, and who is more likely to receive subsidized or supportive housing.

Results: The majority of individuals reported receiving information on housing programs, yet a limited number of those who applied actually received housing. Women and those with mental health or HIV diagnoses were more likely to receive information on either program. Women, and those with a mental illness, were significantly more likely to apply for rental subsidies, yet were no more likely to receive them. Individuals with an HIV-diagnosis had over twice the odds of receiving a rental subsidy (AOR: 2.28, 95%CI: 1.37-3.81) and over six times the odds of receiving supportive housing (AOR: 6.13, 95%CI: 3.54-10.61).

Conclusion: Access to rental subsidies and supportive housing is limited, yet low-income residents with HIV/AIDS are significantly more likely to receive housing. While housing is an essential aspect of AIDS treatment and care, it can also be integral for HIV prevention. Thus, funding should be increased to house individuals who are vulnerable to HIV, including those with substance use and mental illness.