(HM06) Sustainable Housing Is Healthier Housing

“Housing is health” has long been a mantra in the affordable housing sector, clearly recognizing that the built environment is shaping the health outcomes of its inhabitants. It could be similarly stated that “sustainability is health,” and that, in particular, sustainably built housing is key to a healthy community. While shelter is the first critical component, the Covid-19 pandemic has renewed the understanding that ventilation, access to fresh air and nature, indoor air quality, healthy materials, biophilic design, and other social determinants of health have a significant impact on wellness and physical health, particularly in under resourced communities. Even energy-focused goals, such as electrification and reducing carbon impacts dramatically affect resident health through the ability to affordably access heat, air, conditioning, and ventilation during extreme weather events.

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI), Housing Partnership Network (HPN), and Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) are all working towards a holistic approach to health-promoting affordable housing. While each organization has a unique program and approach, we are working together towards an alignment of goals, requirements, and resources in order to achieve the greatest impact. This panel will highlight how each organization is working towards a vision of affordable housing with comprehensive, positive health impacts for individuals, families, and communities; and how all three are collaborating to achieve this vision more quickly.

These three organizations are engaged with affordable housing projects in nearly every state and include projects just getting started with sustainability, as well as those pioneering new achievements in the sector. By aligning terminology and goals and building off of lessons learned from many project teams, these organizations are now helping many more project teams successfully integrate healthy and Red List Free materials and other wellness-focused initiatives that have previously been seen as out of reach for affordable housing. Using case studies and lessons learned, session attendees will learn about resources and strategies to take actionable steps towards healthier housing and how to deepen existing efforts in a practical and efficient way.