East Baltimore and the Neoliberal Impacts of Gentrification on health

This research sought to determine the effects of gentrification on the health of individuals relocated from the East Baltimore neighborhoods of the Johns Hopkins Science and Technology development project. Our methods include both qualitative and quantitative methods- (1) an open-ended survey of 24 questions administered to a random sample of 100 individuals over the course of 6 months, which captured reasons for moving, the distance and frequency of moves, concerns of housing affordability, and knowledge of community resources, (2) an analysis of Baltimore housing, SES, health, and community development data at the census tract and ZIP code levels, (3) community mapping. Our results show that gentrification resulting from neoliberal urban development strategies may negatively impact health. Unstable housing and the worry which accompanies that reality as well as the lack of social (communitarian and institutional), economic, and political capital negatively affect individual health. Effective tools which promote dissemination of information in regard to housing stability need to be utilized in order to empower and invest in the current race and class of people living in East Baltimore.