Hawai’i’s high housing costs could have literally become a health hazard, study finds
“A study from the Hawai’i Budget and Policy Center found Hawai’i’s lack of affordable housing could be costing residents their mental and physical health.
Securing housing, explained lead researcher Beth Giesting, could significantly reduce healthcare costs.
The median home price in Hawai’i is more than double that of the nation and fair market rents have jumped 60 percent since the year 2000, according to the study.
‘We spend a just practically bottomless amount of money on caring for people’s poor health and we’re not investing in people in the right places,’ Giesting added.
People who struggle to pay for housing or end up homeless are also far more likely to endure chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, Giesting said.”