A study published in the October 8, 2025, JAMA Network Open, Federal Housing Assistance and Stage at Cancer Diagnosis Among Older Adults in the US, found that housing assistance is associated with earlier-stage diagnosis of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to non-HUD assisted people.

Across the U.S., according to the study, approximately 6% of patients with breast cancer, 8% with prostate cancer, 22% with colorectal cancer, and 43% with lung cancer receive an initial diagnosis at a late stage, which leads to more intensive treatments, increased morbidity and mortality, and higher health care costs than if detected earlier.

“Housing insecurity, a growing crisis in the U.S., may be an underappreciated determinant of late stage cancer diagnosis and disparities,” the study’s authors note. Housing insecurity can disrupt health care access and continuity by straining household budgets, which causes frequent moves, and by fueling stress, which is linked to cancer pathogenesis and progression, the authors write. “These health care interruptions may delay cancer detection and diagnosis,” the study says.

Older adults aged 65 years or older are particularly at risk, the authors say, given the higher cancer incidence and increasing rates of housing insecurity in this population, with 11.7 million older adults spending more than one-half their incomes on housing.

The research found that housing assistance was associated with lower odds of distant vs localized stage disease for breast cancer (15% lower odds), colorectal cancer (10% lower odds), and NSCLC (17%lower odds). The study found no distinguishable difference for prostate cancer.

The comparative cohort study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry program and Medicare database linked with data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

LeadingAge serves on the Housing assistance, Outcomes, Medicare, and SEER (HOMES) Policy Advisory Board for this research project.

Read the paper here.