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Final Report (Housing and Health).Pdf HEALTH EQUITY DATA ANALYSIS The links between health and housing inequities are Housing and Health was prepared by the City of Bloomington, Division of Public Health to fulfill the requirements of the Statewide Healthundeniable, Improvement and the Partnership challenges faced by households HOUSING struggling to afford housing in opportunity-rich Authors: Joan Bulfer, M.S., R.N. LN, Health Promotion Specialist, Bloomington Public Health Margaret Perez, Health Promotion Specialist,communities Bloomington like Public Richfield Health undermine the collective Sophia Long, graduate student, University of Minnesota,health and School prosperity of Public of the Health community. Households of color are disproportionately impacted. When some AND community members cannot access safe, affordable housing, their physical and mental health may be negatively affected. In turn, this can affect success in school, workplace and community. Policy decisions HEALTH made by the City that affect housing can go a long way toward making Richfield a healthier, more vibrant, and ultimately more equitable community. The Effect of Housing on the Health of Low-income Renters in City of Bloomington Richfield, Minnesota Division of Public Health April 30, 2018May 2018 This project was made possible through funding from the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership, Minnesota Department of Health, 2018 Table of Contents Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Table of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Executive summary ................................................................................................................................... 4 Housing as a Condition that Determines Health ...................................................................................... 9 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Connections between Housing and Health Outcomes ........................................................................... 14 Demographic and Housing Conditions in Richfield ................................................................................. 15 Demographics ..................................................................................................................................... 15 State of Housing .................................................................................................................................. 18 Housing Implications ............................................................................................................................... 21 Cost Burden ......................................................................................................................................... 21 Mobility, Relocation and Homelessness ............................................................................................. 23 Children and Housing Insecurity ......................................................................................................... 28 Differences in Health Data between Renters and Owners ..................................................................... 32 Food Insecurity and Housing ............................................................................................................... 35 Causes of Poor Health for Renters .......................................................................................................... 37 Recommendations to Improve Health through Housing Policies ........................................................... 41 Next Steps ............................................................................................................................................... 42 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................ 44 Appendix A: Literature Review .................................................................................................................. l Appendix B: Multifamily Property Classification ................................................................................. lxxiii Appendix C: Focus Group Analysis ....................................................................................................... lxxiv Appendix D: Kids @ Home Program .................................................................................................. lxxxvi Appendix E: Focus Group Design ...................................................................................................... lxxxvii Appendix F: Key Informant Interviews............................................................................................... lxxxix Appendix G: Advisory Committee ......................................................................................................... xciii Table of Figures Figure 1: Total and School District Populations Race and Ethnicity Comparison ....................................... 15 Figure 2: Poverty by Race and Ethnicity...................................................................................................... 16 Figure 3: Childhood Poverty Rate by Race and Ethnicity ............................................................................ 17 Figure 4: Percentage of 9th Grade Students that Report Receiving Free or Reduced-Price Lunch by Race/Ethnicity ............................................................................................................................................. 17 Figure 5: Comparison of Richfield Owner-occupied vs Renter-occupied Housing Stock by Number of Bedrooms and Household Size .................................................................................................................. 19 Figure 6: Richfield Rent vs. Own by Income ............................................................................................... 20 Figure 7: Racial Inequity in Rent vs. Own Status ......................................................................................... 21 Figure 8: Cost Burden by Rent vs. Own Status and Income ........................................................................ 22 Figure 9: Geographic Mobility by Income ................................................................................................... 24 Figure 10: Geographic Mobility by Race ..................................................................................................... 25 Figure 11: HOME Line Problem Calls for Richfield by Primary Problem ..................................................... 27 Figure 12: Homelessness in the past 12 months among 9th graders in Richfield (2016)........................... 29 Figure 13: Effect of Children in the Home on Richfield Renters HOME Line Problem Calls ....................... 30 Figure 14: Days in the Past 30 Days that Mental and Physical Health NOT Good for Renters vs. Owners .................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Figure 15: Dental Visits and Dental Health for Owners vs. Renters ........................................................... 33 Figure 16: Uninsured by Rent vs. Own Status and Race/Ethnicity ............................................................. 34 Figure 17: Differences in Health and Health Behaviors between Renters and Owners ............................. 35 Executive summary HOUSING AND HEALTH – The effect of housing on the health of low- income renters in Richfield, Minnesota Our genes and access to good health care contribute a surprisingly small amount to our overall health. Good health is mostly created through the social and economic conditions in which people live and work. These conditions greatly influence health and quality of life in a community. Housing is a condition that greatly impacts people’s lives and health. The links between health and housing inequities are undeniable, and the challenges faced by people struggling to afford housing in opportunity- rich communities like Richfield undermine the collective health and prosperity. Bloomington Public Health (BPH) conducted a Health Equity Data Analysis (HEDA) for the City of Richfield exploring the connection of affordable housing and the health of Richfield residents. This process was used to understand the connections between housing and health, then see if there are differences in health outcomes in subgroups of the population living under different housing conditions. If there are differences, then it considers what factors are causing those differences. In this case, we explore the health differences and potential causes between low-income renters and homeowners. Connections between housing and health are undeniable Three connections between housing and health were especially prevalent in the HEDA •Housing conditions such as dampness, infestations and dirty carpets are triggers for asthma and allergies. •Unaffordable housing forces tradeoffs by renters choosing between paying rent and choosing to pay for healthy food or necessary medical expenses. •Poor quality or insecure housing leads to high levels of stress that can cause or exacerbate chronic diseases and/or mental health issues. Richfield
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