Habitat for Humanity’s new report, “Informal Settlement Improvements and Women’s Health,” reveals that improving housing in informal settlements promotes positive health outcomes for women and entire communities, advancing sustainable development.
A decent, affordable house can have a significant impact on a family’s health.
The CDC identified housing as an important social determinant of health, highlighting the link between where people live and their health. This evidence brief summarizes research on key factors to improving health through housing in populations with low incomes and illustrates how the work of Habitat for Humanity contributes to positive health outcomes.
“Habitat educated me,” says Yondella Hall. “I didn’t know leaking and standing water could affect my health.”
Omar and his sister’s health and well-being has improved in their family’s Habitat for Humanity home.
Habitat’s definition of decent housing includes access to clean water, something more than 40% of Zambians don’t have. By partnering with Habitat Zambia, many communities can now access clean, treated water.
On Wednesday, May 10, Habitat will convene a virtual panel of housing and mental health experts to explore the ways in which safe, affordable housing is connected to holistic wellbeing, and solutions for scaling efforts that achieve both.
Habitat offices nationwide have stepped up to donate tens of thousands of face masks and supplies normally used by their construction teams and volunteers to medical providers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.