Nationwide county health rankings released; rural counties increasingly struggle to access affordable housing - Entrepreneur Generations

Severe housing cost burden among U.S. counties from 2011 to 2015 (County Health Rankings map; click to enlarge)

The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, released its annual County Health Rankings report today. The rankings are a good snapshot of each county's health, especially as compared to other in-state counties.

This year's report focused particularly on housing affordability. Meaningful gaps in health outcomes persist among U.S. counties mostly because of differences in opportunities for health care access, the report found. A lot of factors influence that access, including where we live:

"Our homes, and those of our neighbors, play a critical role in shaping our health and the health of the whole community. When our homes are near quality schools and good jobs, it’s easier to get a quality education and earn living wages. When people live near grocery stores where nutritious food is available and affordable, eating healthy is easier. Green spaces and parks encourage active lifestyles. By contrast, inside our homes things like lead, mold, smoke, and other toxins can make us sick. And when too much of a paycheck goes toward the rent or mortgage, it makes it hard to afford the doctor, cover utility bills, or maintain reliable transportation to work or school. Owning a home can help build savings, providing stability and wealth over time."

The report found that people with low incomes and people of color have a harder time accessing affordable housing. More than one in 10 households experience severe housing cost burden, which the report defines as paying more than 50 percent of household income on housing.

Though rural counties have the lowest average of residents experience severe housing cost burden, that's changing: "Since 2006-2010, when a real estate crisis affected more than half of U.S. states, severe housing cost burden has decreased in large urban metro counties. However, half of all rural counties experienced an increase in severe housing cost burden since the housing crisis of
2006-2010," the report found.

from The Rural Blog https://ift.tt/2JnkpyQ Nationwide county health rankings released; rural counties increasingly struggle to access affordable housing - Entrepreneur Generations

Posted by Entrepreneur Generations

Tweet