KEY FINDINGS g Across both the peak (2021-2022) and waning (2023-2024) periods of the pandemic, high- need New Yorkers experienced higher levels of housing hardship than non-high-need individuals. While experiences of hardship declined overall as the pandemic waned, high-need New Yorkers continued to be twice as likely to face persistent housing hardship relative to their non-high-need counterparts (14% vs. 7% across both periods). High-need New Yorkers also experienced disproportionately poorer housing quality. In our study period: g Among high-need New Yorkers, those with housing hardship continued to face higher barriers to accessing healthcare. Those with housing hardship delayed or went without physical and mental healthcare and found it difficult to attend healthcare appointments at higher rates than those with stable housing. Even as the pandemic waned, these barriers persisted. g As the pandemic waned, high-need New Yorkers, regardless of housing hardship, relied less on doctor’s offices and health centers and were generally less likely to have a usual place for receiving healthcare. At the same time, those experiencing housing hardship were increasingly more likely than their counterparts with stable housing to visit the Emergency Room in the last 6 months. This signals a growing shift towards more reactive care settings than those that offer primary, preventive, continuous healthcare. g Compared to their counterparts with stable housing, high-need New Yorkers with housing hardship experienced greater housing-related healthcare barriers, including being more than twice as likely to face unsafe living conditions and to lack a proper place to recover.
HOW HOUSING IS LINKED TO HEALTHCARE ACCESS AMONG NEW YORKERS SINCE THE PANDEMIC 3
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