Loss of Affordable Housing Increases Health Issues in East Harlem: Study

The loss of affordable housing could have dire impacts on the health of East Harlem residents, a study warns.

The New York Academy of Medicine conducted its first-ever, in-depth look at the neighborhood and cautioned that if more isn’t done to build permanent affordable housing, residents could face dangerous health outcomes.

“East Harlem has lost approximately 1,854 units of affordable housing since 2011 and is estimated to lose 6,817 units over the next 10 years,” the study said. “A failure to develop more affordable housing will continue to lead to evictions, displacement, decreased housing affordability and potentially poor health outcomes.” 

Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford, the president of New York Academy of Medicine, said “health is more than health care” and improving housing is a crucial component to improving health outcomes.

Read the article.