Healthy Housing

Housing is a social determinant of health, yet the housing stock in many rural communities is aging and in need of repair, contributing to unhealthy living conditions in many places. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing health challenges and underscored the need for quality, stable housing. Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are disproportionately burdened by health impacts associated with poor quality housing, thus healthy housing is also a key component of health equity.

Developing and preserving safe, decent, affordable housing is a core component of Rural LISC’s community development strategy. Since 2015, Rural LISC has invested more than $3.8 million in healthy housing by providing 240 grants to 63 community-based partners across rural America. Rural LISC seeks to build on that momentum while encouraging our partners to pursue new, innovative strategies to advance health equity in their communities. Through the Healthy Housing Initiative, Rural LISC seeks to partner with and support organizations that incorporate healthy housing principals into their affordable housing projects and community development programs.

"...healthy housing is also a key component of health equity."

Rural LISC works with local partners to ensure that homes are sited, designed, built, renovated and maintained in ways that support resident health. A healthy home must meet resident’s fundamental physiologic and psychologic needs and protect against disease, injury, fire and toxic gases (CDC). According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a healthy home is dry, clean, safe, well ventilated, pest-free, contaminant-free, well maintained and thermally controlled.

“Green” is often a component of healthy housing. Green buildings are “designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment” by “using healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation and maintenance” (EPA). Energy efficiency and weatherization upgrades also promote resident health and reduce out of pocket health costs (DOE). Green buildings often produce health benefits; conversely, healthy housing projects can also produce environmental co-benefits.

“Members of CHIP’s staff pose for a picture on site of four homes being built in Paradise, CA as part of the long-term recovery of the Camp Fire.”