Precarious housing is a ‘hidden emergency’ that is affecting the health of a large number of Canadians, and the population health of the entire nation, according to a powerful new research report from the Health and Housing in Transition Study (HHiT). “The number of people experiencing the devastating health outcomes associated with inadequate housing could be staggering – far beyond previous estimates based on shelter and street counts,” according to the researchers. “People who are vulnerably housed face the same severe health problems as people who are homeless. People who don’t have a healthy place to live – regardless of whether they’re vulnerably housed or homeless – are at high risk of: serious physical and mental health problems; problems accessing the health care they need; hospitalization; assault; going hungry.” The Wellesley Institute’s Precarious Housing in Canada 2010 also underlines the links between poor housing and poor health, and sets out a pragmatic 10-year housing plan for Canada. Other research from the Wellesley Institute, including Poverty Is Making Us Sick, also draws the relationship between income and health.