UNSTABLE FOUNDATIONS: HOUSING INEQUALITY AS SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH IN GEORGIA
With: Tara Hassani Goodarzi MD, MPH
Gulzar Shah PhD, MSat, MS
Gulzar Shah PhD, MSat, MS
Housing inequality is a critical social determinant of health (SDOH), disproportionately affecting marginalized communities and perpetuating cycles of physical and mental health disparities. This study examines the intersection of housing inequities and health outcomes in Georgia, where historical policies like redlining and exclusionary zoning have entrenched racial and economic segregation. By analyzing housing affordability, instability, and quality, we highlight the systemic barriers that exacerbate adverse health effects, particularly among low-income households and communities of color. Georgia’s housing landscape reveals stark disparities, with 30% of households statewide experiencing cost burdens, and renters in metropolitan areas like Atlanta spending over 50% of their income on housing. Substandard living conditions, such as mold, overcrowding, and inadequate ventilation, correlate with elevated risks of respiratory illnesses, developmental delays, and chronic stress. Housing instability further compounds these challenges, linked to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), disrupted healthcare access, and intergenerational poverty.
Our findings underscore the urgent need for multi-level policy interventions, including zoning reforms, expanded affordable housing initiatives, and healthcare collaborations to address housing-related health inequities. By centering racial equity and community-driven solutions, this research advocates for systemic changes to dismantle the legacy of discriminatory housing policies and foster healthier and more equitable built environment.