As has been widely reported, the workings of the for-profit Boston housing market has created a “crisis.” This crisis has two aspects: the effect on individual families or households and the effect on the community. Both will be discussed in this presentation. Statistics show dramatic increases in housing costs in Jamaica Plain. These increases are displacing large numbers of low income, or working class residents. This process has profound consequences for public health – constant and long term insecurity around the maintenance of a family’s home, children’s stability and performance in school, willingness to tolerate unhealthful, bad conditions, etc. Also, the housing market works in such a way as to negatively reward activism among tenants to improve the community, since such activism (better parks or schools, lower crime, etc.), when successful, will only further drive the market. The consequences for community disruption and loss of solidarity are also public health issues. Solutions must include efforts to organize to restore some measure of regulatory control on the market as well as public subsidies to et a large proportion of the low-moderate income housing stock outside the for-profit market – into non-profit, public, or limited equity ownership. These measures to allow long term residential stability are crucial for public health.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Housing, Access
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.