More than financial stress- housing insecurity is a mental health concern.

How Jacksonville Residents Can Get Help

Many people have lost a job or seen other changes in their income because of COVID-19. That loss has a ripple effect across so many different parts of life, and one of the most substantial is housing.

Tens of millions of US households spend more than 30% of their income on housing, according to the organization Preventing Chronic Disease. Knowing that, it’s easy to see how a loss of some or all of a household’s income can lead to an inability to pay a mortgage or rent. Even outside of the past year where COVID-19 has had an impact, many low-income households can struggle to pay this critical bill month-in and month-out.

Stable housing is not just an economic issue. It is a mental health one as well.

A research study of home foreclosure, health, and mental health has shown that home foreclosure has a negative effect on mental health because of the immense stress and anxiety, lack of sleep, and other negative consequences of a limited income. It can also be a drain on a community, as neighbors see home after home shuttered up and wonder if they’re next.

Even short of foreclosure, housing insecurity is a challenge. A study of relationships between housing and food insecurity, and frequent mental distress of people showed 20.1% of those who were housing insecure reported frequent mental distress, compared to 6.8% of respondents who had stable housing.

Duval County housing resources just received a big boost.

To help Duval County residents who have become housing insecure because of COVID-19, the City of Jacksonville and United Way of Northeast Florida recently announced that nearly $24 million would be made available to cover up to 12 months of rent and utility payments for qualified participants. Another $5 million is available in a partnership with JEA, to help with past-due electric bills.

Details about how to apply for this assistance have not yet been released, but there are many other programs that are already providing cash assistance and other forms of support as well. The United Way of Northeast Florida is a great resource to learn about help that may be available to you.

It’s More Than the Money

For anyone who has been struggling with housing insecurity and homelessness, it’s important to recognize the toll that may be taking on your mental health. There are many problems that can surface both in the short- and long-term:

  • Stress and anxiety relating to meeting basic needs
  • Fear of homelessness
  • Loss of sleep
  • Self-doubt, loss of self-confidence
  • Inability to feel secure even after placement in stable housing, because of fear of future loss of income
  • Avoidance of medical and/or mental health care

Please do not ignore how taxing housing insecurity and financial stress can be on your mental health.

Feeling more secure financially is an important step. Enrolling in programs like what Jacksonville is offering can help with that, alongside focusing on budgeting.

To support mental health challenges associated with housing insecurity, speaking with a trained therapist or counselor can help. Professionals registered with the Jax Therapy Network provide information on the average cost of a visit and whether they accept insurance, so you can see not only which providers specialize in the help that you need, but whether they’re affordable for you.


You can search for qualified therapy professionals near you through the Jax Therapy Network homepage.