Community and individual factors that influence housing need among low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the influence of individual- and community-level conditions on the housing needs among low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Secondary data analysis was conducted on HIV/AIDS housing survey data collected in 2006 in a four-county metropolitan area. The study sample consisted of 384 low-income PLWHA living in 78 ZIP Code areas. Community-level data were compiled from 2000 Decennial Census, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other affordable housing databases. Using hierarchical linear modeling, two housing need outcome variables (a) need for housing assistance and (b) housing stability were studied. The first research question concerned the influence of individual conditions (socio-demographics, housing situations, and social histories) on housing need. In predicting need for housing assistance, none of the socio-demographics of age, gender, race, or ethnicity was a significant predictor of housing need. Of the housing situation predictors (housing burden, household composition, potential impact of rent increase, housing subsidy), only housing burden was a statistically significant predictor. Lastly, considering social history (work status, history of homelessness, mental illness and substance use history), a history of homelessness and substance use history were significant predictors. Only a history of homelessness statistically significantly predicted housing stability. The second research question concerned the influence of the community conditions of distress, degree of rurality, and social infrastructure on housing need. All the community predictors, except number of affordable housing units (a measure of social infrastructure), were statistically significant predictors of need for housing assistance. None of the community variables was a statistically significant predictor of housing stability. The findings suggest that community conditions are associated with the need for housing assistance. The third research question concerned interactions between the individual- and community-level conditions. The relationship between history of homelessness and need for housing assistance was stronger in areas where there were more affordable housing. The findings of the study support the conclusion that both individual and community conditions are associated with housing need among PLWHA. The report concludes with a discussion of these results and offers implications for social work practice, policy, and research.