THEMATIC BRIEF October 2022
People’s School on Health Outcomes and Affordable Housing October 14, 2022
The third online People’s School on Affordable Housing and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals focused on health. Participants in this People’s School spoke from their perspectives in public health promotion, seniors’ housing provision, support for women escaping domestic violence, co-ops, and community advocacy. Connie Clement was the resource person. Connie brought her experience with the National Collaborating Centre on the Determinants of Health, and her volunteer work with the Antigonish Affordable Housing Society.
Analysis: Understanding the Connections Instability: Participants noted the complexity of the strands connecting mental health, earning an income, and finding a home. Access to housing is tied to access to transportation and a living wage. People in poverty do not have options of moving making them more vulnerable to climate impacts such as flooding as we have seen in Antigonish and Wolfville. Hospital emergency departments cannot provide the mental health support where people in crisis once went for assistance. During the Covid pandemic precarious housing options became untenable, resulting in more people living on the streets. Stability is a term that is often not highlighted in these discussions, but the significance for a person knowing they have a stable home opens opportunities such as joining community groups, going back to school, gardening—activities unthinkable when someone is in a precarious housing situation.
Advocacy: The health promoters in attendance discussed advocacy—the need to raise awareness of the reality on the ground that they see. They see the health impacts upon those who do not have adequate housing, and the great efforts that community organizations are making to respond and support different demographics. They identify the need to broaden those efforts across all ages, and the capacity building these organizations need to sustain and expand their work.
Life course: Connie brought together some of the threads of the discussion. Every group echoed what research says about all facets of affordability and accessibility: is the housing maintained or mouldy, is it an accessible neighbourhood with services, is there access to
nature, stability—what is the likelihood of being disrupted? Connie noted the impacts of housing need throughout the life course, it is not only a moment in time, but has long-term and intergenerational effects on the determinants of health: mental and physical health, employment, access to wealth/assets and financing—this barrier is magnified for African Nova Scotian and Indigenous populations. A participant noted the prevailing emphasis on rental options for affordable housing. Looking at that life course approach, it is worth remembering that homes are our biggest asset, we use that wealth for later stages in life, access to wealth and issues of renting versus home ownership should not be overlooked. For women escaping violence, for example, they live in “legislated poverty”—changing that trajectory would change the future for the whole family. Residential land trusts or rent-to-buy models can facilitate investments to offer more financial stability, and capacity building for residents to succeed.
Actions: Community-Based Solutions Changes in Housing Need: The discussion turned to reconsiderations of housing supply that is best suited to the changing demographics, and opportunities for responsive housing designs. People who want to age in place may not have the resources to maintain their homes, at the same time they cannot afford to move. There is an opportunity for a shift to European concepts that not everyone will own but will have stable rent over the long term. Housing land trusts can keep properties outside the market that can cushion against price swings and allow for redesigns of existing properties that can facilitate integrated intergenerational neighbourhoods. Participants also spoke of more efficient use of space for denser housing designs and smaller homes. This also reduces the pressure on development sprawl. Existing natural spaces need to be maintained both for ecosystem health and for our own wellbeing to spend time in nature.
Collaboration: The innovations discussed cannot be achieved by individual groups, the successful initiatives involve partnerships and coalitions. Participants also spoke of the critical role of non-profit organizations and the support they require to offer non-market housing solutions.
Accountability: Priorities for Sustainable Change Funding and Policy Changes: Reallocation of resources for prevention—it is cheaper to house people adequately than to deal with acute health challenges later. At the policy level, how we understand implications of barriers and how health services can better respond across populations to address discrimination, and poverty-related vulnerabilities such as access to nutritious food and paid sick leave.
Thematic Brief: People’s School on Health Outcomes and Affordable Housing | Page 2
For more information on the People’s School series on Affordable Housing and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, visit this page: https://coady.stfx.ca/sdgs-andaffordable-housing-peoples-schools/