Faculty Collaboration Database

Access to housing subsidies, housing status, drug use and HIV risk among low-income U.S. urban residents. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2011 Nov 23;6:31

Date

11/25/2011

Pubmed ID

22112385

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3283493

DOI

10.1186/1747-597X-6-31

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-81555232130 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   30 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Much research has shown an association between homelessness and unstable housing and HIV risk but most has relied on relatively narrow definitions of housing status that preclude a deeper understanding of this relationship. Fewer studies have examined access to housing subsidies and supportive housing programs among low-income populations with different personal characteristics. This paper explores personal characteristics associated with access to housing subsidies and supportive housing, the relationship between personal characteristics and housing status, and the relationship between housing status and sexual risk behaviors among low-income urban residents.

METHODS: Surveys were conducted with 392 low-income residents from Hartford and East Harford, Connecticut through a targeted sampling plan. We measured personal characteristics (income, education, use of crack, heroin, or cocaine in the last 6 months, receipt of welfare benefits, mental illness diagnosis, arrest, criminal conviction, longest prison term served, and self-reported HIV diagnosis); access to housing subsidies or supportive housing programs; current housing status; and sexual risk behaviors. To answer the aims above, we performed univariate analyses using Chi-square or 2-sided ANOVA's. Those with significance levels above (0.10) were included in multivariate analyses. We performed 2 separate multiple regressions to determine the effects of personal characteristics on access to housing subsidies and access to supportive housing respectively. We used multinomial main effects logistic regression to determine the effects of housing status on sexual risk behavior.

RESULTS: Being HIV positive or having a mental illness predicted access to housing subsidies and supportive housing, while having a criminal conviction was not related to access to either housing subsidies or supportive housing. Drug use was associated with poorer housing statuses such as living on the street or in a shelter, or temporarily doubling up with friends, acquaintances or sex partners. Living with friends, acquaintances or sex partners was associated with greater sexual risk than those living on the street or in other stable housing situations.

CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that providing low-income and supportive housing may be an effective structural HIV prevention intervention, but that the availability and accessibility of these programs must be increased.

Author List

Dickson-Gomez J, McAuliffe T, Convey M, Weeks M, Owczarzak J

Authors

Julia Dickson-Gomez PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Timothy L. McAuliffe PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Analysis of Variance
Connecticut
Female
HIV
HIV Infections
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders
Middle Aged
Poverty
Public Housing
Risk-Taking
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Partners
Substance-Related Disorders