According to a recent study published in the journal “Pediatrics,” crowded housing, frequent relocations and homelessness exacerbate children’s pre-existing health conditions and the family’s overall stress level. Another study from Children’s HealthWatch shows that when families don’t have stable housing, their risk of struggling with poor health outcomes and material hardships—such as food insecurity—increases.

Redzic said these facts hold true in DuPage County, where data suggests residents are settling for inadequate conditions due to the rising cost of living.

“A stable home environment is the cornerstone of everything for someone who is struggling with their living conditions,” she said. “If you do not have an address, you cannot get a job. If you do not have a place to sleep, you cannot be rested for a job interview or perform well in a classroom. If you do not know where you are going to sleep on a given night, it’s hard to plan for the future. It all begins with having a room of one’s own and a safe personal space to live in.”