Building Healthy Communities

Erin HaganPolicyLink Center for Health Equity and Place

NASCSP 2012 Mid-Winter Training Conference

March 2, 2012

PolicyLink

PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity by

Lifting Up What Works®

PolicyLink Center for Health Equity & Placeis informed and driven by the recognition that a

neighborhood’s environment – including economic, social, and physical characteristics

–all affect our health.

Building Healthy Communities

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• Parks• Grocery Stores• Financial

Institutions• Employment

Opportunities• Safe & Affordable

Housing• Better Performing

Schools• Good Public

Transportation

• Fast Food Restaurants• Liquor Stores• Unsafe/Limited Parks• Poor Performing

Schools• High unemployment• Increased Pollution

and Toxic Waste Sites• Limited Public

Transportation• Inadequate Child Care

& After School Programs

Communities of Opportunity

Disinvested CommunitiesGood Health

Status

Poor Health Status

Contributes to health disparities:• Obesity• Diabetes• Asthma• Infant mortality

Designed for Disease

The Grocery Gap

• Accessing healthy food is a challenge for many Americans—particularly those living in low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, and rural areas.

• Better access corresponds with healthier eating and lower risk for obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases.

• New and improved healthy food retail in underserved communities creates jobs and helps to revitalize low-income communities.

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USDA Food Environment Atlas

#Low income & > 1 mi to store, 2006 0 - 5,000 5,001 - 10,000 10,001 - 25,000 25,001 - 257,616

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Community Strategies to Increase Access to Healthy Food

• Grocery store development/attraction

• Farmers’ markets

• Corner stores

• Urban agriculture

• School food reform

• Regional food systems

• Mobile markets

• Food-based business/ microenterprise development

• Community-supported agriculture

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A Case in Improving Food Access

Source: Baltimore Office of Sustainability

Healthy Food Financing Initiative

A national campaign initiated by PolicyLink, The Food Trust, and The Reinvestment Fund

Goal: To improve access to healthy food in low-income,

underserved rural, suburban, & urban communities

Healthy Food Financing

• Pennsylvania’s Fresh Food Financing Initiative– 93 new or renovated stores

– 5,023 jobs created or retained

– Improved food access for 400,000 residents

– Commercial revitalization

– $194 Million in total projects leveraged from $30 Million state seed money

– 4 - 7% increase in nearby home values • National Healthy Food Financing Initiative

– USDA

– HHS

– Treasury

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$77 Million in Allocated Funds

2011, $45 million from Agencies:

• $35 million Treasury

• $10 million HHS

• $10 million USDA

2012, $32 million from the Budget:

• $22 million Treasury

• $10 million HHS

• Other opportunities USDA

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Resources

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Thank You

Erin Haganehagan@policylink.org

510-663-4341