Today the housing market is at a high, and with prices elevating it leaves those who economically struggle to scrap for houses in a more financially accessible range, usually made with poor infrastructure that leaves room for more serious problems to occur. The target of these challenges is black individuals who struggle to find a stable living. Bad infrastructure stunts your everyday life and is an inadequate way of living; coming from a place of financial struggle, poor interior problems leave you needing to spend more and more money on your house, eventually leaving you a financial burden.
In homes with mold and pests, asthma rates, especially among children, skyrocket. Old, deteriorating pipes often contain lead, which damages the brain and nervous system, particularly in young children. Unsafe water qualities and bad interior lining, like open access to fiberglass all are hazardous. Bad roads and sidewalks make it unsafe to walk or bike, which limits physical activity and contributes to chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. These all contribute to an early start to an unhealthy life. In a community, it is important that the homes are well-kept and not falling apart. Homes reflect the neighborhood, so when a home is falling apart and not taken care of it is a cause for concern. Water leaks and moisture can create an ideal environment for mold and mildew to grow. Mold exposure can trigger allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and other respiratory conditions. Black mold, one of the most dangerous kinds of mold, with even a little exposure over time can kill someone. When neighborhoods lack grocery stores, clinics, and green spaces, people don’t get the resources they need to live healthy lives, usually shown in lower-class black communities which often take the most damage.
Overall, addressing these challenges requires attention from policymakers, landlords, and communities to ensure that safe, healthy housing is accessible to all. Solving this problem means more than just building new houses, it means investing in the neighborhoods that were neglected like fixing roads, replacing toxic pipes, improving air quality, and making healthcare, transportation, and healthy food accessible to everyone. Until housing inequality is addressed, Black communities will continue to bear the burden of poor infrastructure and poor health. We as a nation need to unite under one cause— to fix those broken neighborhoods that are detrimental to health and come together as a community. Let’s work together to fix this problem!
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