FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media Relations
Housing in the U.S. has been wrought with racist and discriminatory practices that have led to worse health for ethnic and minority communities, and a new housing equity report from the American Public Health Association helps explain that shameful history and offers some potential solutions.
“Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health and Housing Equity” describes how housing can be a source of health, social connection, economic security and stability, while outlining key tools to advance health equity through housing.
"The impact of housing on health, equity and economic security has become even more apparent during the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic crisis,” said Kelly Hilovsky, a Bloomberg American Initiative Policy Fellow at the APHA Center for Public Health Policy. “It’s critical that public health professionals understand the historical context of housing inequality and how we can engage with impacted communities to shape a more equitable, healthy future for all, through housing."
Citing “racist structures and policies laid the foundation for resource deprivation in low-income neighborhoods, which continues to compound over time,” the report details how discriminatory lending practices, redlining, exclusionary zoning, restriction covenants, gentrification and overall discrimination have dotted the American landscape. As a result, the current state of housing falls short of meeting the basic needs of many, mostly low-income groups and communities of color.
People of color, in comparison to whites, face a host of health disparities, including higher rates of chronic disease and premature death that can be linked to housing or a lack of housing. For instance, asthma mortality rates in African-American children are nearly eight times higher than in non-Hispanic white children. Other negative health outcomes including infectious diseases, infant health, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression can be linked in part to poor housing.
“The relationship between housing and health is more than just the four walls that shelter an individual or family each night,” the report notes. “More broadly, the link between health and housing is a result of influences from both the individual home unit and a variety of structural and societal factors within a neighborhood.”
To begin to overcome those inequities, the report outlines numerous ways to advance equitable changes in housing by:
- Preventing structural racism;
- Increasing housing affordability;
- Advancing housing quality and safety;
- Supporting neighborhoods; and
- Ensuring housing stability.
“Broad disenfranchisement and overt racism led to the current state of housing and health inequity,” the report states, “and only an inclusive, ethnically diverse community-led approach will deliver just and desirable solutions.”
APHA has long been involved in advocating for the advancement of equity through housing across the country. Next month, as part of its Advancing Racial Equity series, APHA is hosting a free webinar on housing.
APHA also offers a wealth of related resources online, including reports and issue briefs, and information on Health Equity, Healthy Community Design and Healthy Homes.
###
The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and all communities. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.