What does the intersection of health and housing look like in a suburban community? Why housing matters to health on Long Island.

1. The Intersection of Housing and Health:
ASuburban Story
Martine Hackett, Ph.D., MPH
Dept. of Health Professions,
Hofstra University
June 8, 2015

2. Health and
Housing: we
have been
here before

3. Increased
awareness of
living
conditions
through visual
media

4. Advocacy
resulted in
changes that
improve
living
conditions for
all

5. How does
housing
intersect with
health in the
suburbs?
Policy
Community
Home
• Supply of
affordable housing
• Residential
segregation
• Foreclosures
• Neighborhood SES
• Availability of
resources
• Crowding
• Hazards: lead,
mold, pests
• Stress on parents
and children

6. Uninsured
population
ages 18-64 by
HUDAssisted
Housing
Properties,
2013, Nassau
County

7. Households
Living Below
Poverty Level,
% byCensus
Tract 2009-13
NassauCounty

8. Households
living below
poverty by
Brownfield
sites, 2013

9. Households
living below
poverty,
Brownfield
sites,Asthma
Discharge rate
ages 0-18

10. “They [the delis]
all serve the
same thing, they
don’t serve
anything fresh,
like vegetables
and fruit.”
Roosevelt Photovoice, 2012

11. Vouchers for
relocation to
mixed income
community=
long term
benefit for
children

12. Public
Reactions to
Affordable
Housing in
GardenCity
“This is not a color issue…it has to do with a
false sense of entitlement. The gall of a group
of people to think they belong in a
neighborhood they cannot afford and then
expect the government to pay for the housing
and pay for the rent for this housing is vomit.”

13. Broad
approaches (and
personal stories)
neededto
address
challenges of
improving health
through housing
on Long Island

14. “These are new
stores with
apartments
above them.
This improves
the block overall
and it is always
clean.”
New Cassel Revitalization Photovoice project, 2013

15. Thank you!
Twitter & Instagram: @publichealthy