Rental-Insights-A-COVID-19-Collection - Flipbook - Page 25
RENTAL INSIGHTS:
ISOLATION AND
MENTAL HEALTH
What is the relevance
to Australian policy?
The negative mental health impact
of COVID-19 on women compared to
men is of significant policy importance.
There are likely multiple reasons for this
gender- based differential related to the
increased caring responsibilities borne
by women, financial stress experienced
by single-parent households and
the impact of working from home.
In addition, and likely related, there
has been a six-fold increase in calls to
services providing support for women
who experience domestic violence.
Financial strain and affordability
and security concerns for people in
the rental housing market have the
strongest association with people’s
odds of reporting worse mental health.
JobSeeker, JobKeeper and rental
assistance will provide some relief to
tenants, however, longer term solutions
are required. Similarly, the halt on
evictions is currently protecting many
from homelessness but placing tenants
in a stressful situation nonetheless.
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The condition of some rental dwellings
(as rated by tenants) and the extent
to which people have been able to
keep them warm over winter is also
of policy significance. This is likely to
be related to financial constraints as
well and the structural properties of
dwellings requiring multiple types of
interventions.
Odds of reporting significantly decreased mental health as a result of COVID-19
0.25
0.5
1
Female c.f. male
2
4
8
1.4 (1.2 - 1.6)
AGE GROUP
30-49
50-64
65+
0.8 (0.7 - 0.9)
0.9 (0.7 - 1.1)
0.6 (0.4 - 0.8)
SECURITY AND CONDITION
Require financial assistance in next 12 months
5.6 (4.9 - 6.5)
History of multiple moves
2.2 (1.8 - 2.8)
Unaffordable housing costs
4.2 (3.0 - 5.9)
Cold housing
1.8 (1.6 - 2.0)
DWELLING CONDITION (c.f. Excellent)
good
average
0.7 (0.6 - 0.8)
1.2 (1.0 - 1.4)
poor
2.0 (1.6 - 2.5)
very poor
Work remotely
Victoria c.f. NSW
2.9 (2.1 - 4.1)
1.3 (1.2 - 1.5)
1.5 (1.3 - 1.7)
