Domestic violence and child development: Costs of a lack of adequate housing

Published by l’Observatoire québécois des inégalités, this research note by Geoffroy Boucher (economist) and Sandy Torres (researcher) quantifies how inadequate housing in Quebec is linked to intimate partner violence and child development harms. It defines overcrowding as a stress factor, estimates a 7.8% higher risk of partner violence in overcrowded housing, and attributes about $23.2 million in 2022 violence-related costs to this condition.
This content is useful for non-profit housing providers, tenants’ groups, women’s housing services, and public housing agencies.
Topics include: inadequate housing, overcrowding, domestic violence, child development, housing insecurity, Quebec housing crisis.