The Fight For $15 movement is collective action that promotes population health by tackling income and poverty, two root causes of stark and unjust health inequities. This fact sheet provides evidence from public health science of the connection between low wages and poor health and health inequities. Cook County PLACE MATTERS works to eliminate structural racism so that all people of Cook County, Illinois, USA have the opportunity to live healthy lives.

1. Steering Committee
Daniel R. Block, PhD
Chicago State University
James E. Bloyd, MPH
Cook County Department of
Public Health
Kathryn Bocanegra, LCSW
ENLACE Chicago
Sheila R. Castillo, MUPP
Midwest Latino Health
Research Training & Policy
Center
Natalie Chadwell, MBA
South Suburb Resident
Sheelah Muhammad, DN
Root Cause
Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH
Past President, American
Public Health Association
Johnnie L. Owens, Jr.
Centers For New Horizons
Tiffany Pryor, MSW
Illinois Caucus for Adolescent
Health
Bonnie Rateree
Human Action Community
Organization
Felipe Tendick-Matesanz MS
ROC Chicago
Reveca Torres
Co-Founder,
BackbonesOnline.com
Communications
Agnes Markos
RAISING INCOME SAVES LIVES AND PROMOTES HEALTH EQUITY: COOK
COUNTY PLACE MATTERS SUPPORTS THE FIGHT FOR $15 MOVEMENT
 A 14-year gap in average life expectancy exists between people in low
income and better-off Chicago area neighborhoods: Households at the
bottom rung have much higher rates of poverty and family incomes
under $25,000 per year.(Cook County PLACE MATTERS 2012)
 Nationwide people with incomes above the federal poverty line
typically live more than five years longer then those below the poverty
line. (Human Impact Partners 2014)
 HIV is becoming a disease of poverty, especially in communities of
color. Poverty and HIV go hand-in-hand. (Suraj Madori, AIDS Foundation of Chicago)
 Wage increases in California would prevent nearly 400 premature
deaths among lower-income Californians each year. (Rajiv Bahtia 2014)
 “Anything we can do to help enhance economic stability will have a
huge public health benefit. This is a major public health issue.” (Minnesota
State Health Commissioner Edward Ehlinger)
 Income is not only tied to health, but to the things that create the
opportunities for better health, such as safe homes, nutritious foods
and good schools. (American Public Health Association 2015)
 A wage increase would decrease the risk of premature death by 5% for
adults ages 24 to 44 living in households with an income of about
$20,000. (Bhatia 2001)
 The effects of income inequality on adults spill over and affect their
children.
 The ratio of CEO to average worker pay was 25 to 1 in 1970. In 200 the
pay gap was 500 to 1. (Williams & Rosenstock 2015)
 52% of Fast Food Workers 48% of home care workers, 46% of childcare
workers & 25% of part-time college faculty rely on public assistance to
feed their families and make ends meet (Jacobs, etal 2015)
 Poverty and income inequality increase infant mortality-- the chance
that a baby will die before their first birthday. (Williams & Rosenstock 2015)
 The #FightFor15 movement is collective action that promotes
population health by tackling income and poverty, two root causes of
stark and unjust US health inequities.
Working to eliminate structural racism so that all people of Cook County
have the opportunity to live healthy lives
1640 West Roosevelt Road M/C 625 Chicago, Illinois 60608
708-633-8314 FAX 708-633-7995 E-mail: placematterscookcounty@gmail.com
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