Article in The Lancet Public Health examines Housing at the Intersection of Health and Climate Change

By Ella Izenour, NLIHC Opportunity Starts at Home Intern 

The Lancet Public Health published an article this month, “Housing at the intersection of health and climate change,” exploring the pathways through which climate change affects housing-related health risks. This article is the second in a series of two papers focused on housing as a social determinant of health. The authors propose a “climate-informed framework” that positions housing as a key social determinant of health and argue that targeted policy responses, including the expansion of affordable housing stock, can shift housing from a point of climate vulnerability to a source of resilience.  

The article breaks down the intersections of housing, health, and climate change into three major elements: housing systems, housing pillars (security, affordability, suitability), and home environments. Housing systems, structural factors—like restrictive land use—building codes, and tenancy regulations can reduce access to secure, energy-efficient, and affordable housing. These barriers disproportionately affect low-income households, heightening their exposure to climate-related health risks. Historical practices like redlining and discriminatory lending have further entrenched vulnerabilities particularly in marginalized communities.   

The authors outline three housing pillars: security, affordability, and suitability. These pillars determine the extent to which housing protects or exposes residents to health hazards. Climate change undermines these pillars by increasing the frequency and severity of natural disasters, which can lead to displacement, food insecurity, infectious diseases, and psychological stress. Rising repair costs, higher energy demands, and diminished affordable housing supplies resulting from climate change and disaster also threaten housing affordability and suitability.   

Home environments are the most immediate determinants of healthy housing and are linked to climate change as a contributor, outcome, and mediator. Energy use for heating, cooling, and electricity can generate greenhouse gas emissions, while extreme weather events degrade building materials, cause structural damage and increase exposure to contaminants. Conversely, sustainable housing designs can reduce environmental impact and mitigate health risks.   

The authors emphasize that without resilient and stable housing, broader public health interventions are less effective, and individuals are more vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. The article calls for the centering of housing in climate and health policy at all levels of governance. By expanding affordable housing stock and introducing stronger tenant protections, such as minimum rental housing standards for energy, thermal resilience, and indoor air quality, safe, resilient homes can be accessible to low-income households. The article concludes by recommending systemic improvements in housing security, affordability, and sustainability to transform housing into a foundation for resilience.   

Read the article here.  

To learn more about the intersections between housing, climate, and health, read the OSAH fact sheets here.