Assessing the housing challenges for children with medical complexity in the State of Maryland
Children with special health care needs may have additional housing considerations to ensure that their living arrangements enable them to thrive. This is perhaps especially relevant for children with increased medical needs (e.g. technology dependence). For example, a child who requires invasive home ventilation may also require a back-up generator, ample room for supplies, and increased levels of electrical usage. However, the experiences and trade-offs parents confront as they negotiate managing their child’s complex health needs and household finances remain absent from the research literature on material hardships among caregivers.
This project was developed from stakeholder concerns about the fragility of stable and adequate housing for families of children with chronic and complex conditions raised at the 2019 Levi Symposium hosted at the Berman Institute. The Symposium was attended by national and state experts on children with medical complexity, including physicians, government and social service agencies working directly with children and families, and caregivers.
