Rebuilding Together Atlanta aims to connect housing and health by addressing health hazards in low-income homes. The document discusses how zip code is more predictive of health than genetics, and that 30 million US homes have health hazards. Low-income families are less able to remedy unsafe housing conditions. Rebuilding Together provides free home repairs to improve safety and health for those in need, such as the elderly, families with children, veterans and disaster victims, while also revitalizing communities.
1. Rebuilding Together: Connecting Our Homes and Our
Health
Right to Live with Shelter and Healthcare –
Answers to Poverty and Underemployment
Camille Kesler, Rebuilding Together Atlanta
June 10, 2017
2. 2
According to the Centers for Disease Control, a person’s
zip code is more predictive of overall health
status than his or her genetic code.
3. 3
MAKING THE CONNECTION
Our Homes & Our Health
National data indicated that at least 30 million
homes have one or more health hazards
present.
Americans tend to spend close to 90 percent of
their time indoors. An estimated two-thirds of
that time is spent at home.
Families with fewer financial resources are
more likely to experience unsafe, unhealthy
housing conditions and are least able to
remedy them. Substandard housing conditions
are often found in areas of concentrated
poverty.
4. 4
HEALTH HAZARDS AT HOME
An estimated 535,000 children between the ages of 1 and 5
have elevated levels of lead in their blood.
Having a lower income is associated with a greater risk of
temperature-related death, particularly for older adults. Heat
and cold can challenge the ability to maintain a stable core
temperature, which heightens a person’s vulnerability to
illness.
Moisture control is key to mold control. Exposure to damp,
moldy environments is linked to asthma and other respiratory
illnesses.
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REBUILDING TOGETHER: WHAT WE DO
Head
Bullets
Our Vision
A safe and healthy home for every person.
Our Mission
Together we transform the lives of low-income homeowners by improving
the safety and health of their homes and revitalizing our communities.
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REBUILDING TOGETHER: OUR MISSION
Head
Bullets
Revitalizing Our Communities
Rebuilding Together not only repairs
individual homes, but also transforms
communities nationwide by establishing
community green spaces and repairing
community centers.
Improving Safety & Health of Homes
Rebuilding Together provides free, direct
home repairs for neighbors in need,
including families with young children,
older adults, veterans and victims of
disaster.
Alternate: “Your address reflects the daily living conditions that can create – or limit – your opportunities to be healthy.” Building Healthy Places Network (2015), Making the Case for Linking Community Development and Health
National data… HUD (2015) “Lead Hazard Controls and Healthy Homes: 2015 Summary Statement,” https:portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=fy15cj_lead_hzrd_cntrl.pdf
Americans tend …RWJF (2011), “Issue Brief #7: Exploring the Social Determinants of Health, Housing and Health,” http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/issue_briefs/2011/rwjf70451
Families with… RWJF (2015), “Making the case for Linking Community Development and Health,” http://www.nchh.org/Portals/0/Contents/Housing%20Interventions%20and%20Health.pdf
An estimated 535,000 children between the ages of 1 and 5 have elevated levels of lead in their blood. CDC (2017), “Prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning,” https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/infographic.htm
Having a lower income is associated with a greater risk of temperature-related death, particularly for older adults. Heat and cold can challenge the ability to maintain a stable core temperature, which heightens a person’s vulnerability to illness. AARP (2010), “Affordable Energy and Health: Making the Connections,” http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/ppi/cons-prot/2010-05-energy.pdf
Moisture control is key to mold control. Exposure to damp, moldy environments is linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses. CDC (2014), “Facts about Mold and Dampness,” https://www.cdc.gov/mold/dampness_facts.htm
Direct, free repairs for low-income families.
We are preserving existing affordable housing. Repairs address the health hazards (like ones previously discussed) present in the home.
According to our 2016 affiliate survey, 65 affiliates partner with their local Rotary chapter – nearly half of our entire network (46%)!
Watch Cheryl's Story (3 minute version)
A 1 minute version of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIUp2LRZbpg