Early Childhood Housing Hardship May Shape Housing Stability in Young Adulthood

Housing might seem like a straightforward part of growing up, but new research suggests that what happens at home in the earliest years of life can echo far into adulthood. A Rutgers-led study has found that housing hardships before the age of 5 may significantly increase the risk of housing insecurity when those children reach their early twenties — even if their living situation becomes stable later in childhood. The findings offer a deeper look into how early instability can leave long-lasting marks and why early support may be crucial.

Researchers examined data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, which follows families whose children were born between 1998 and 2000 across 20 major U.S. cities. From this dataset, the team analyzed 1,576 caregiver responses recorded over a 15-year period, starting in early childhood and extending into adolescence. Caregivers were surveyed at five different points and asked if, within the past 12 months, they had faced any of the following issues: missing a rent or mortgage payment, moving in with others due to financial strain, being evicted for nonpayment, or spending at least one night without housing — whether on the streets, in a car, or in a shelter. These indicators helped identify patterns in housing stability as children grew up.

Using these responses, researchers created three distinct housing-insecurity groups. The first, labeled low, included children who were consistently stably housed. The second group, chronic, represented children whose families struggled with precarious housing at every point measured. The third subgroup, called early childhood, included children who experienced unstable housing during their first five years but later achieved stability by around age nine. This separation allowed the researchers to examine how different patterns of instability affected later outcomes.

Years later, when the children in the study reached around 22 years old, they completed the same set of questions about their own housing situation. Anyone who reported experiencing at least one of the mentioned hardships within the past year was classified as facing housing insecurity in emerging adulthood.

When researchers compared the childhood housing patterns with the outcomes at age 22, the results were clear — and a bit surprising. Predictably, participants from the low-insecurity group had the lowest rates of housing problems as young adults. Growing up with stable housing strongly reduced the likelihood of instability later.

However, the unexpected finding was that the early-childhood insecurity group and the chronic insecurity group had almost identical probabilities of experiencing housing insecurity at age 22. This means that even though children in the early-childhood group eventually gained stable housing by age nine, their early exposure to homelessness, eviction, or frequent moves continued to affect them well into adulthood. Their outcomes mirrored those of children whose housing never stabilized throughout childhood.

Researchers offered several possibilities for why early instability remains so influential. One major factor is that early housing hardship often reflects limited family economic resources. Families who struggle in the early years may not be able to offer steady financial support later on, leaving young adults more vulnerable when they pursue independent living. Demographic trends also play a role; for instance, being Black or male is statistically associated with higher housing-insecurity risk across ages, reflecting broader structural inequalities. Thus, some young people face compounded disadvantages both early and later in life.

Additionally, housing instability during the earliest, most formative years may affect development more deeply than instability later on. Young children rely heavily on predictable routines, stable environments, and consistent caregiving. When the home environment is disrupted by eviction, doubling-up, or homelessness, it can influence stress, emotional development, and a child’s sense of security. These early disruptions may contribute to long-term vulnerabilities that surface years later, even after housing becomes stable in middle childhood.

The study did not examine specific causes behind the long-term effects, but the patterns align with research showing that early childhood is a critical developmental window. Experiences during this period — whether positive or adverse — often leave lasting impacts. What this study adds is clear evidence that early housing hardship is one such experience that may shape young adults’ housing stability.

Researchers emphasized that small interventions can make meaningful differences. Access to child-care subsidies, free or reduced-price school meals, and other forms of financial relief may ease the burden on families facing economic hardship. Such support can help prevent missed rent payments or forced moves — disruptions that carry long-term consequences. Preventing instability early on, before patterns become ingrained, may interrupt the cycle of hardship and promote healthier, more stable transitions into adulthood.

This research adds to a growing body of evidence showing that housing insecurity is not a short-term inconvenience but a condition with deep long-term effects. It is interconnected with health, education, employment, and well-being. Understanding these links helps policymakers and social-service providers design better programs to support families during the years that matter most.

To give this study more context, it’s worth looking at what we already know about housing insecurity and how it impacts childhood development. Below are some broader insights that can help readers understand the significance of the findings.

What Housing Insecurity Means and Why It Matters

Housing insecurity is a broad term that includes a range of challenges — not just homelessness. It can involve missing payments, living in overcrowded conditions, frequent moves, or sharing space with another household because of financial strain. While these experiences may appear different on the surface, they share a common feature: they disrupt stability. For children, even subtle disruptions can influence emotional regulation, academic performance, and long-term coping skills.

Studies have shown that children who move frequently are more likely to fall behind in school. Families who must double-up with others may face overcrowded spaces, lack of privacy, and stress. These factors can shape how children perceive safety and security. In addition, adults who experienced childhood housing instability often face more difficulty achieving financial independence, accumulating savings, or maintaining stable employment — all of which can feed back into housing challenges.

Why the First Five Years Are So Important

Early childhood is a period marked by rapid brain development. Cognitive, emotional, and social skills form quickly, and the home environment plays a major role in shaping them. When families experience instability during this period, children may internalize the stress. For example, frequent moves might interrupt schooling or early learning programs, disrupt relationships with caregivers, or limit access to supportive services.

Even if conditions improve later, the early disruptions might leave lasting impressions. That’s why the study’s finding — that early hardship predicts later housing insecurity — fits into a broader understanding of how early experiences influence adulthood outcomes.

How Policy and Support Systems Can Help

The study points out that modest support programs can go a long way in preventing long-term hardship. For example, rental assistance programs that help families stay housed for even a few extra months could prevent cascading consequences. Similarly, child-focused benefits like meal programs or subsidized child care may free up enough income to keep families stable.

Community resources, such as family support centers, employment assistance, and local housing programs, also play crucial roles. Strengthening these systems may reduce the likelihood that early childhood hardships will persist into adulthood.

Research reference:
Childhood Housing Trajectories and Risk for Housing Insecurity in the Transition to Adulthood