3 forms of housing instability were associated with adverse caregiver and child health among low-income renter households, according to a recent study. Caregivers of children aged 0-48 months were interviewed in 5 urban medical centers from May 2009 to December 2015. Caregivers reported on the following: caregiver health, maternal depressive symptoms, child’s health, lifetime hospitalizations, developmental risk, and 3 housing circumstances, which were categorized as being behind on rent in the past 12 months, multiple moves (≥2 in past 12 months), and child’s lifetime history of homelessness. Researchers found:

• Of 22,324 families, 34% had at least 1 of the following adverse housing circumstances: 27% had been behind on rent, 8% had made multiple moves, and 12% had a history of being homeless.
• Households behind on rent had increased adjusted odds of fair and/or poor caregiver health, maternal depressive symptoms, child lifetime hospitalizations, fair and/or poor child health, and household material hardships.
• Based on this data, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends social screening within health care.