"Like pouring salt in a wound": A qualitative exploration of the consequences of unmet housing needs for cancer patients and survivors in New York City.

OBJECTIVE: To identify consequences of unmet housing needs in the period following cancer diagnosis. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive design. PARTICIPANTS: New York City-based cancer patients and survivors (n = 21) who reported experience of unmet housing needs while receiving cancer treatment. Key informants (n = 9) with relevant expertise (e.g. oncology social workers). METHODS: One-time semi-structured telephone or in-person interviews were conducted with all participants. Inductive thematic coding was conducted using a pragmatic paradigm. FINDINGS: Four categories of consequences emerged: 1) cancer management and health (rest and recovery, illness/injury risk, medical care); 2) psychological (stress and anxiety, lack of control and independence, self-esteem/pride, sadness/depression, cancer coping); 3) social (relationships, consequences for others, isolation); and 4) standard of functional living. CONCLUSION: The simultaneous experience of cancer and unmet housing needs is broadly burdensome. IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL PROVIDERS: Screening and resources for addressing unmet housing needs must be prioritized to holistically care for patients.