Housing and Society Publishes Article on Housing Stability for Parents with Disabilities 

By Ella Izenour, NLIHC Opportunity Starts at Home Intern 

Housing and Society, the journal of the Housing Education and Research Association (HERA), recently published an article,“Housing stability for disabled parents in the United States: estimates from the American Community Survey,” which examines disparities in housing stability for parents with disabilities. Using data from more than 11 million respondents to the American Community Survey between 2017 and 2021, the authors find that parents with disabilities are more likely to live in unaffordable housing compared to nonparents with disabilities, parents without disabilities, and nondisabled nonparents. These findings underscore the need to promote affordable, stable, and accessible housing for parents with disabilities to support parent, child, and family well-being.   

The study highlights gaps in existing housing programs that disproportionately disadvantage parents with disabilities and their families, contributing to housing instability and child welfare disparities. Parents with disabilities are significantly more likely to rent and less likely to own homes, leaving them more vulnerable to rising housing costs and eviction. Notably, even after adjusting for factors such as poverty status and type of disability, substantial disparities in housing affordability and tenure persist. This suggests that housing instability among parents with disabilities is driven not only by financial constraints but also by structural and systemic barriers, including discriminatory lending and rental practices.    

The authors conclude by calling for further research into the lived experiences of parents with disabilities facing housing insecurity. They emphasize the need for targeted programs and policy reforms to address gaps in existing support, such as social housing programs and interdisciplinary partnerships with contractors and occupational therapists to ensure affordability, accessibility, and person-centered design. Additionally, limited internet access and other forms of marginalization may hinder the ability of parents with disabilities to access rental assistance and related resources. The authors suggest the development of targeted outreach programs and supportive policies to expand access to rental assistance resources among parents with disabilities. Overall, the study demonstrates the urgent need for housing solutions that are not only affordable but also accessible and inclusive, to advance equity and strengthen family stability.   

Read the article here.    

To learn more about the intersection of housing and disability, read the Opportunity Starts at Home fact sheet here.