Housing is a catalyst for improving racial equity and health outcomes.
This collection features initiatives supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and resources for communities working to advance affordable housing as part of a comprehensive approach to creating healthier, more equitable places to live.
Far too many people in the United States—especially Black, Latino, and Indigenous people—have long faced insurmountable housing inequities that have limited their opportunities for health. This includes decades of discriminatory housing and lending practices.
These inequities, coupled with rising housing costs and stagnant wages, have left many families unable to pay for other basic expenses, including food and healthcare. The pandemic worsened housing disparities and made clear that a secure, affordable home is critical to good health. This holds true for people across the country—in communities large and small, rural and urban.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is working alongside others to build a Culture of Health that provides everyone in America the opportunity to live the healthiest life possible, regardless of where they live, their race or ethnicity, or how much money they earn. The way forward requires policies, practices, and systems changes that respond to each community's needs, centering resident priorities and solutions to create thriving neighborhoods with access to opportunity and health.
