Neoliberal housing and the health–poverty nexus: mapping of evidence using a systematic framework synthesis from Argentina and Chile
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: This systematic review responds to a critical gap in housing and health literature by examining how neoliberal housing policies impact low-income populations in Argentina and Chile. While existing reviews often link housing conditions to health outcomes, few consider the structural effects of neoliberal reforms that reframe housing as a commodity rather than a fundamental human need and a critical factor in health. Drawing on a framework synthesis of twenty-two studies from Argentina and Chile, we identify the institutional, spatial, and social mechanisms through which housing systems affect resident well-being. Using a structured matrix built on the PISO framework and informed by PRISMA guidelines, we analyse evidence across four interlinked domains: health, economic resilience, social cohesion, and urban spatial integration. Our findings reveal that neoliberal housing programs frequently externalise structural risks to residents, exacerbating vulnerability despite formal homeownership. The paper also introduces a bespoke risk of bias tool adapted for mixed-methods research, revealing pervasive gaps in methodological transparency of articles reviewed here. By integrating health into a broader structural critique, this review contributes to both the social housing and public health literature, demonstrating how market-led policies may entrench poverty rather than disrupt it. PROSPERO ID CRD42024602433.
Source: Systematic Reviews
Institutions: University of Reading, Universidad de La Frontera
Language: English
Subfield: Finance
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,090
OpenAlex ID: W7214063196