Does government housing help lead to healthier pregnancies and babies?
Federal Housing Assistance and Birth Outcomes in the United States
This project looks at whether federal housing assistance during pregnancy is linked to fewer preterm births and healthier birth weights for low-income families.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11166468 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, researchers will link federal housing program records to birth certificates and other health data to see how housing support before and during pregnancy relates to newborn health. They will compare people who received housing assistance with similar low-income households who did not, and they will examine timing across pregnancy trimesters. The team will use statistical methods to reduce bias from differences between families and will look at outcomes like prematurity and low birthweight. Findings will help clarify whether stable, affordable housing during pregnancy matters for newborn and later cardiovascular health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people in low-income households who receive or are eligible for federal housing assistance (such as HUD vouchers or public housing) would be the population most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, who have stable affordable housing, or who are in higher-income households are unlikely to be directly affected by this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If findings show benefit, the work could support policies that expand housing assistance to help reduce preterm birth and low birthweight among low-income families.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies suggest a link between housing support and better birth outcomes but results have been mixed, and this project uses larger linked administrative data and stronger methods to provide clearer evidence.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomas, Kyla — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Thomas, Kyla
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.