Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health and Housing Equity
This resource describes historical and current discriminatory housing policies and practices (e.g. redlining, exclusionary zoning, racist restrictive covenants, gentrification and discriminatory lending practices) as root causes of current inequitable housing distribution and health inequities in the United States. Many have described similar discriminatory policies taking place in Canada as well.
This report also describes common discriminatory housing practices and their effects on wealth accumulation over generations, where unfair and intentionally discriminative housing practices are often racially motivated and have led to communities of color being trapped into less desirable neighborhood and living conditions over time. A description of the negative health implications of living in underinvested, poorer neighborhoods and unhealthy housing combined with data on housing inequities and lack of affordable housing options provides important context.
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“Discriminatory housing practices are just one of several factors that have exacerbated racial wealth disparities over time, but as homeownership is a key factor in establishing wealth, housing represents a pivotal tool to disrupt the cycle of generational wealth inequities.” (p.4) "Broad disenfranchisement and overt racism led to the current state of housing and health inequity, and only an inclusive, ethnically diverse, community-led approach will deliver just and desirable solutions." (p.10) |
A section on the implications of housing options for health and health inequities looks at affordability, quality, stability, and neighborhood impacts on affected groups including African-Americans, Latinx, older adults, 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous, and people with disabilities. The paper final section urges public health practitioners to take action on housing to improve health equity and offers practice examples on how to utilize public health interventions.
Use this resource to:
- Guide action on housing to improve health equity
- Build interventions to intervene in specific ways that:
- Prevent structural racism
- Increase affordability
- Advance Quality and Safety in housing
- Support neighborhoods to become healthy
- Ensure stability for tenants and homeowners
Releated Resources
Housing as a focus for public health action on equity: A Curated List
Towards healthy homes for all: What the RentSafe findings mean for public health in Canada
Other documents from 'Creating the Healthiest Nation
Reference
American Public Health Association. (2020). Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health and Housing Equity.
Tags: Environmental health, Housing, Socioeconomic status, Stigma, discrimination, Public Health Association, Report / Document