BHPN September Pulse, the 2-min read that keeps you in the know

An overwhelming majority of voters say access to affordable health coverage is one of the top issues they’re paying attention to regardless of party affiliation; New Mexico launches a new state-funded workforce housing development funding program; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updates its health equity framework; and community-led initiatives are showing that families can live healthier lives with enough support.

SDOH on the rise: A growing number of states are recognizing that they need to establish new multisector relationships, infrastructure, and capacity to help address the social determinants of health. Some local health departments are already partnering with companies to study the social determinants of health in their communities and there’s a chance their results could add to some of the work that’s already been done.

Catalyzing meaningful change: Build Healthy Places Network is pleased to welcome the 13 esteemed members of a newly formed advisory council set up to guide the Community Innovations for Racial Equity initiative. The insights of these seasoned multisector leaders will help ensure that the initiative's impact is strategic and far-reaching. Want to find out who’s on the council? Click here for the list.

NIMBY no more?: The city of Elk Grove, California? has agreed to plan for more low-income housing and pay the state’s legal fees to settle a nearly two year fair housing lawsuit. Now the city of Norwalk, nearly 400 miles south, is next. The city has received a notice of violation and could be sued by the state if it doesn’t reverse a city-wide moratorium on emergency shelters, single-room occupancy (SRO) housing, supportive housing, and transitional housing.

A hands-on approach to affordable housing: Pennsylvania’s creating the state’s first comprehensive Housing Action Plan to end the state's housing shortage and expand affordable housing options. Meanwhile, in some cities, residents are taking the initiative by building dwellings for unhoused people before winter sets in.?

Putting civic muscle to work: With a month to go until Election Day, the importance of working together to create a shared future and strengthen our communities from within has never been more clear. A large part of that work lies in using civic muscle to promote health and belonging for everyone. Voter Registration Day is behind us but it’s never too late to stand up and make a difference. Every vote counts!

An unfair fight: A group of no less than nine New Jersey mayors and local officials are suing the state to scrap a new affordable housing law that could create thousands of low-priced units. The pushback against affordable housing is even being seen further up the Atlantic coast in Maine where a working group has scaled back its recommendations for building affordable housing districts and creating lower-cost subdivisions on town-owned properties, opting for small-scale developments instead.

Reimagining community-based healthcare: The AbbVie Foundation has launched an accelerator to rethink the delivery, space and place of care for underserved communities with limited access to healthcare services. Time is of the essence though. A recent survey from the Commonwealth Fund shows that a widespread shortage of medical professionals is harming community-based outpatient clinics that provide primary medical and other healthcare services.

And now, even though Environmental Awareness Month may be behind us, we must continue to remember that our connection to nature and to each other is deep and complex. There are no easy solutions but together we can protect our shared environment while ensuring that equity is at the center of that work.

This article is a version of BHPN's recent newsletter. If you’re dedicated to improving the health of communities through cross-sector collaboration, join our newsletter for new Build Healthy Places Network updates and resources! Sign up here.