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Housing is a shelter used as a dwelling orliving space by individuals, families, or a collective. It provides a space for preparing food, storing belongings, caring for children and the elderly, and maintaining privacy.
Housing was a central concern of social reform movements in the 19th century when it was understood as a fundamental human need, distinct from spaces designated for work, healthcare, and education. [1] In 1948, housing was recognized as a human right in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, establishing housing as a necessary condition for an adequate standard of living. By the end of the 20th century, housing was increasingly understood as a space used for personal maintenance, rest, and leisure. [2]
From the 1950s to 1970s, the supply of adequate housing expanded globally due to public subsidies and the direct construction of publicly owned housing. Since the 1980s, home mortgages have become the most common means worldwide for individuals and families to access housing, while governments have shifted toward facilitation of the private mortgage market [3] The securitization of mortgage debt on a global scale since the early 2000s has further contributed to framing housing as investment property while the supply of adequate housing has continued to shrink. [4] [5]
![]() | This overview section duplicates the intended purpose of the article's lead section , which should provide an overview of the subject.(May 2025) |
Housing includes a wide range of sub-genres from apartments and houses to temporary shelters and emergency accommodations. [6] Access to safe, affordable, and stable housing is essential for a person to achieve optimal health, safety, and overall well-being. Housing affects economic, social, and cultural opportunities as it is directly linked to education, employment, healthcare, and social networks.[ citation needed ] In many countries, housing policies and programs have been developed to address housing issues related to affordability, quality, and availability.[ citation needed ] These programs and policies are referred to as housing authorities, also known as a housing ministry or housing department.
Generally, there are two types of housing, market housing and non-market housing. Market housing refers to housing that is bought and sold on the open market, with prices and rent determined by supply and demand.[ citation needed ] Market housing is owned by private individuals or corporations and consists of apartments, condominiums, private housing, etc.[ citation needed ] Non-market housing refers to housing that is provided and managed by the government or non-profit organizations.[ citation needed ] The goal of non-market housing is to provide affordable housing for individuals or families considered low-income.[ citation needed ] Non-market housing is subsidized, meaning that rent is lower than the market rate, and tenants may be eligible for rent assistance programs. [7] Non-market housing consists of public, social, and cooperative housing among others.
Housing prices are affected by the macroeconomy. [8] Research conducted in 2018 indicates that a 1% increase in the Consumer Price Index leads to a $3,559,715 increase in housing prices. As a result this raises the property price per square foot by $119.3387.[ citation needed ] Money Supply (M2) has a positive relationship with housing prices. A study conducted in Hong Kong reported that as M2 increased by one unit, housing prices rose by 0.0618.[ citation needed ] When there is a 1% increase in the best lending rate, housing prices drop between $18,237.26 and $28,681.17 in the HAC[ which? ] model.[ citation needed ] Mortgage repayments lead to a rise in the discount window base rate. A 1% rise in the rate leads to a $14,314.69 drop in housing prices, and an average selling price drop of $585,335.50.[ citation needed ] In the United States, when there is a 1% increase in the US real interest rate, the property prices decrease from $9302.845 to $4957.274, and sellable area drops by $4.955206 and $14.01284. When there is a 1% rise in overnight Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate, the housing prices drop to about 3455.529, and the price per ft2 will drop by $187.3119. [9] [ need quotation to verify ]
Housing is recognized as a social determinant of health. [17] While high-quality housing environments positively contribute to an individual's health, poor housing or a complete lack thereof leads to negative health effects. Lack of housing or poor-quality housing can negatively affect an individual's physical and mental health. Housing attributes that negatively affect physical health include dampness, mold, inadequate heating, and overcrowding. Mental health is also affected by inadequate heating, overcrowding, dampness, and mold, in addition to a lack of personal space. [18] Another factor that negatively impacts mental health is housing instability. [19] Negative health effects that impact children include potential exposure to asthma triggers or lead, and injuries caused by structural deficiencies (e.g. lack of window guards or radiator covers). [20]
Family members with poor health reduce debt to avoid risks. Data from the China House Finance Survey used a partial least squares structural equation model for results that indicated family member's poor health and individuals with uninsured endowment insurance have an adverse impact on housing debt and family assets. [21]
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: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link) The dictionary definition of housing at Wiktionary