Healthy Homes, Healthy Communities: A Critical Conversation

Building a Healthy Community: Healthy Homes, Healthy Communities

The Orange County Building a Healthy Community Roundtable Discussion & Resource Fair centers around the theme "Healthy Homes, Healthy Communities: A Critical Conversation." This theme highlights the essential role that safe, affordable, and adequate housing plays in promoting overall community health and wellbeing.

Through a collaborative and interactive roundtable discussion, community members, organizations, and leaders will engage in open dialogue and exchange ideas about healthy homes as a pathway to health equity and overall community health. The event aims to identify challenges and opportunities for promoting health equity and develop action steps to address them in Orange County.

Why Housing?

Housing plays a significant role in shaping the health outcomes of individuals and communities. Access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing is essential for maintaining good health and wellbeing.

Housing inequalities can have a harmful impact on community health. For example, substandard or overcrowded housing may expose residents to environmental hazards such as lead, mold, or poor air quality—contributing to respiratory illnesses and other health problems.

Housing insecurity—the lack of stable and secure housing—can also negatively affect both physical and mental health. People experiencing housing insecurity may struggle to access nutritious food, medical care, and social support, increasing their risk of developing or worsening health issues.

Housing inequities are often linked to other social determinants of health, such as income and education, which can create cycles of disadvantage. Lower-quality housing areas may also lack access to quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

In short, housing is a critical component of community health. Addressing housing inequities is essential to promoting health equity and improving outcomes for all members of our community.

Healthy Homes Roundtable Discussion

This roundtable discussion is intended to be a collaborative and interactive forum where participants engage in open dialogue and exchange ideas about healthy homes as a pathway to health equity and overall community health.

All participants will have an opportunity to sit together and contribute to the conversation in a supportive and inclusive manner.

To support the goals of the Building a Healthy Community Roundtable, we will invite participants to engage in small group discussions on the following sample topics:

• How housing quality and conditions impact our health
• How stable housing options support overall community health
• New ideas for making housing more affordable for everyone
• Ways communities can work together to ensure everyone has a healthy home and environment
• The relationship between housing and education, and how one can impact the other
• How the process of gentrification can lead to displacement
• The role of government policies in ensuring access to healthy homes
• The benefits of living in environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient homes
• The importance of community involvement in solving housing challenges
• The impact of COVID-19 on housing and the need for long-term solutions to address inequalities

Additionally, participants will be invited to hear from Orange County leaders who will share insights on these topics. Attendees will then have the opportunity to take part in an open forum discussion.

By fostering open dialogue and sharing diverse perspectives, this roundtable aims to generate new insights and collaborative solutions to complex housing and health equity challenges.

Building a Healthy Community Resource Fair

The Building a Healthy Community Resource Fair will be an open invitation to organizations, businesses, and community groups to come together to share information and resources with the public.

This fair provides a valuable opportunity for community members to learn about the services and organizations that support healthy housing and healthy communities. Examples of the resources that may be available include:

• Information on affordable housing programs and resources for low-income households
• Education and training programs on maintaining healthy home environments
• Resources for mental health and substance abuse support services
• Information about healthcare services and clinics offering affordable care
• Connections with community-based organizations and advocacy groups working on housing equity and environmental justice
• Resources for financial education and budgeting to help secure stable income and housing
• Legal services and tenant advocacy resources to protect housing rights and prevent eviction
• Community gardening and food justice initiatives promoting healthy and affordable food access
• Opportunities for community members to engage with and learn from one another