Rising home values and Covid-19 case rates in Massachusetts. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arcaya, Mariana C.; Nidam, Yael; Binet, Andrew; Gibson, Reann; Gavin, Vedette
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 265(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Housing -- Health disparities -- Social determinants of health; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113290
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: We explore whether housing displacement pressure could help explain place-based disparities in Massachusetts COVID-19 prevalence. We use qualitative data from the Healthy Neighborhoods Study to illustrate how rising and unaffordable housing costs are experienced by residents in municipalities disproportionately affected by COVID-19. We then predict municipal-level COVID-19 case rates as a function of home value increases and housing cost burden prevalence among low-income households, controlling for previously identified community-level risk factors. We find that housing value increase predicts higher COVID-19 case rates, but that associations are ameliorated in areas with higher home values. Qualitative data highlight crowding, "doubling up, " homelessness, and employment responses as mechanisms that might link housing displacement pressure to COVID-19 prevalence. Highlights: Rising housing values predict higher COVID-19 case rates in Massachusetts. Median home value negatively interact with home value change. Large home value increase predicts higher case rates in low, but not high, value areas. Residents report crowded housing and homelessness resulting from unaffordable housing. These mechanisms might link housing displacement pressure to COVID-19 prevalence.