Inadequate housing can lead to chronic physical & mental health issues.
Safe, Healthy Housing Matters
More than ever, the importance of adequate shelter is a matter of critical concern locally, regionally and nationally. Healthy housing affects all aspects of individual and community life. Impacts on health, educational outcomes, equity/social justice, workplace productivity, and quality of life are amply demonstrated by peer-reviewed research. We invite you to explore some of the reports that influence decisions we make when we are assisting our neighbors with home repairs and modifications, like this article on aging-in-place from the American Council on Science and Health.
Housing in Kent County
The most recent Comprehensive Plan for Kent County identifies the primary housing challenge as, “meeting local housing needs while ensuring that new housing is suitably located, compatible with existing community character, and offers diverse housing opportunities for all household income levels and age.” At RTKC, our hope is that recent national conversations will help inform the next Plan and recognizes the generational impact of systemic racism in housing.
Maryland Poverty Profiles
In the 2020 Maryland Poverty Profiles, Kent County went from being ranked 12th to 8th in the state for poverty and remained first in percentage of residents living in deep poverty. Our small size can present a challenge when seeking resources but also presents a huge advantage: achieving big goals is possible. At RTKC, we are working to end substandard housing in our community and with under 2000 unites classified as “inadequate” by the Housing Assistance Council, we have a firm target!
Measuring…Home Repairs
A joint effort by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and PolicyMap, Measuring and Understanding Home Repair Costs, is an in-depth analysis of the benefits of modifications, and the cost of not doing them. From the introduction, “Inadequate housing is linked with an increased risk of injury and the development of chronic physical and mental health issues, presenting particularly acute hazards for children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.”
Rebuilding Together Kent County uses a 25-point checklist when we are working in a neighbor’s home. It was adapted by our national office based on the Department of Housing & Urban Development’s guidelines. You can view their full consumer action guide, Everyone Deserves a Safe and Healthy Home, and use it to assess your own home!
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, which serves Maryland, D.C. and six other states in the southeast, has released their Targeted Community Lending Plan. Information specific to Maryland begins on page 66.
In Life in Rural America, a report from NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, survey results suggest that 27% of rural Americans face financial strain and 16% are worried about health and healthcare.
As we come across other important resources that speak to the affordable housing challenges, we will link them above. We invite you to share research, reports and policy papers that you feel are useful by emailing them to info@rtkc.org. We love learning about other programs, projects and ideas that can be implemented in Kent County as well!