Healthy and Affordable Housing
Our homes are key to our health, yet an estimated six million American homes are in substandard condition, and tens of millions more have one or more health or safety hazards. Furthermore, an increasing number of Americans are not able to afford housing and as a result, homelessness is becoming a national crisis in many parts of the country. Law and policy solutions are needed to improve access to healthy, affordable housing, particularly for low-income and marginalized communities.
Resources
Rent Escrow as a Tool for Enforcing Tenants’ Rights
Proactive Rental Inspection as a Tool for Enforcing Tenants’ Rights
Housing Availability and Affordability Toolkit
Court Processes for Handling Eviction Cases During COVID-19
Legal and Policy Approaches Towards Preventing Housing Instability Toolkit
Racial Residential Segregation and Health Justice: Public Health Impacts of Housing Policies in the United States
COVID-19: State and Local Government Actions to Address Housing Insecurity
Lead Safe Housing Rule: Overview and Opportunities for Public Health Advocates
Smoke Alarm Installation Liability
Exchange of Blood Lead Data to Facilitate Responsive Action Under the Lead Safe Housing Rule
Housing Law and the Impact on Domestic Violence Survivors
Health Justice, Homelessness and Sanitation: Confronting a National Public Health Crisis
Spotlight
Innovative Use of Federal Power to Protect Tenants from Eviction
Renters Bill of Rights: Education, Enforcement, and Enhancement of Rights
Renters Bill of Rights: Clear and Fair Leases
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A Closer Look at Healthy and Affordable Housing
Safe and healthy housing is one of the most basic and important social determinants of health. Yet, an estimated six million American homes are in substandard condition, and tens of millions more have one or more health or safety hazards, including lead and other toxins.
Housing affordability and stability also affect health outcomes, but an increasing number of Americans are not able to afford housing and as a result, homelessness is becoming a national crisis in many parts of the country.
Public health leaders recognize the profound role housing plays in the health of individuals and of communities. The Network for Public Health Law eagerly seeks to work across sectors, including with attorneys and others working in the housing sector, to provide critical research, best practices, and other information needed for the drafting, adoption, and implementation of evidence-based law and policy to improve access to affordable, healthy housing.
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