Understanding the Prevalence and Factors Associated with Accessing Public Housing Programs: Findings from the 2019 Annual Survey of Refugees

Public housing is an important resource for ensuring the safety and integration of newly arrived refugees in the United States (U.S.). This study examines the prevalence and multiple factors associated with accessing public housing programs among refugees in the U.S. The data for this study were derived from the 2019 Annual Survey of Refugees (ASR) collected over the past 5 years between 2014 and 2018 (N=3,995). Prevalence estimates were obtained through chi-square tests, while multiple logistic regression was used to determine significant associations between independent and dependent variables. The prevalence results indicated that 33.3% of refugees had access to public housing programs. Several primary factors, including being older, female gender, unmarried status, lower educational attainment, resettlement in the Midwest or South, and participation in other social welfare programs, were associated with decreased odds of accessing public housing programs among refugees. In contrast, refugees with chronic debilitating conditions were associated with increased odds of accessing housing programs compared to those without suchchronic debilitating conditions. These findings highlight the need for improved programs focused on vocational training, English language services, cultural orientation, and policy advocacy for higher minimum wages and affordable housing to facilitate the smooth resettlement of refugees in the U.S.