Health
About 80 percent of what determines a person’s length and quality of life happens outside of a doctor’s office, clinic or hospital. Educational opportunity, economic stability, neighborhood safety, availability of recreational facilities and access to fresh, healthy food overwhelmingly shape a person’s well-being and health. Across our country, zip codes predict one’s access to quality jobs, good schools, safe streets and quality housing. Which means that zip codes predict life expectancy.
LISC’s approach to improving health in underserved places is holistic: we promote affordable, green housing, safety, good education, job opportunities and financial stability—all of which factor into the health and wellbeing of a community. But we also focus our work to shore up three fundamental resources every neighborhood needs to keep residents well: easy access to primary health care, affordable, nutritious food and safe places to exercise.
Through the Healthy Futures Fund, LISC is developing innovative ways to bring community health centers to underserved areas as well as affordable housing that incorporates health services for low-income residents.
Our Healthy Food Initiatives help neighborhoods develop and expand sources of wholesome, affordable foods—like grocery stores, farmer’s markets, client choice food pantries and urban vegetable gardens. The programs we support also educate community members about nutrition and empower residents to advocate for healthy eating in their own families and neighborhoods.
Our collaborations with the NFL Foundation “Grassroots” program, part of our sports and recreation initiatives, help schools and community organizations build or rehab football fields.
The importance of access to good healthcare and nutritious food has never been more evident. Check out our resources to learn about on-going strategies to address the root causes of health through its social determinants, and how practitioners are factoring this knowledge into strategies to improve health outcomes.
