Forum Session Announcement - Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Through Housing and Community Development Policies

Forum Session Announcement - Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Through Housing and Community Development Policies F O R U M S E S S I O N Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Through Housing and Community Development PoliciesOCTOBER 16, 2015 The physical, economic, and social environment where people live is an important factor that affects health and well-being. [...] Federal policies that support affordable housing and community development include a mix of tax credits, grants, and requirements for banks that together help make capital available for housing and other community uses.2 Several key initiatives include: • the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, which helps states finance affordable housing in low-income neighborhoods;3 • the Community. [...] urban counties, and smaller government units (through a program administered by states) to address a range of community development needs;6 • the HOME Investment Partnerships program, which provides grants to states and local governments to support strategies for increasing home ownership in low-income communities;7 and • the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), which encourages banks to meet the c. [...] In addition, philanthropic organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the California Endowment, and the Kresge Foundation have been devoting resources to strengthen links between health and community development.12 SESSION This Forum session will explore the role of federal housing and community development programs and consider the potential for greater impact from increased collab. [...] KEY QUESTIONS • How do housing and community development policies address the social determinants of health, and what is their impact on community well-being? • What can health policy learn from the experiences of the community development sector? • How can the health and community development sectors increase collaboration to be more effective in reducing health disparities and improving well-.