Kathleen Hoke

Public housing is one of three forms of rental assistance programs used in the U.S. and has the potential to improve public health by addressing the need for quality affordable housing. However, significant changes are needed to match the successes seen in other countries. This resource examines public housing programs in other countries, the current state of public housing in the U.S., and the need for federal policy changes and increased investment in public housing.

Nearly half of renters in the U.S. are “cost burdened,” spending more than 30 percent of their incomes on housing, and about one in four renters spend more than 50 percent of their incomes on housing (“severe” cost burden). Cost burden leaves struggling renters with less to spend on other important needs such as healthcare. This fact sheet examines the use of rent control and rent stabilization policies to stop or slow increases in the price of rent, and whether they, or alternative approaches, are more effective at reducing the number of people considered to be cost burdened.

More than two million eviction cases are filed against tenants each year in the United States. That’s roughly one eviction filing every four minutes. Eviction can impact the physical, psychological, and economic health of individuals, families, and communities for years, and yet the vast majority of tenants navigate these weighty eviction proceedings without the help of legal counsel. This resource outlines various approaches to providing legal counsel to those facing eviction.

People who experience homelessness report overall poorer health. Homelessness itself also makes it more difficult for people to secure medical treatment, manage medications, access consistent or healthy food sources, and protect themselves from weather extremes and communicable diseases. People who experience housing instability similarly experience a range of negative health impacts. Knowing the negative relationship between housing instability and health, communities can choose to invest in infrastructure and resources to better respond to homelessness. This resource outlines possible measures to support housing stability in the community.

Women are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, and these disparities are even more pronounced during pregnancy, with some studies estimating that one in five pregnant people face food insecurity. There is growing interest in positioning food insecurity as a health issue requiring a health care response. Federal and state programs that center "food as medicine" show promise in addressing the negative health outcomes that can result from food insecurity, improving both maternal and child health outcomes.

Tattoos have become increasingly popular across many demographics. State and local laws should be in place to ensure sanitary conditions in tattoo businesses and proper training of artists. This resource outlines the National Environmental Health Association Model Code related to tattoos, which states and local governments can use as a guideline for developing effective regulations.

With more than 55 million people in the U.S. who are currently 65 or older (a number that is expected to continue to increase for decades), facilitating healthy aging should be a public health priority. There are Federal and State initiatives that can serve as a blueprint for creating programs and collaborations that improve older adult health.

The Network seeks to support local, state, and tribal governments, health departments, community-based groups or organizations, nonprofits, professional associations, health care systems and providers, and others in their efforts to eliminate deep, systemic, and racially driven inequities in public health. Join us for a webinar outlining our recently released Legal and Policy Assistance to Address Racial Health Equity call for applications (RHE CFA) to support work on racial health equity. We are seeking applicants developing or working on a specific issue that prioritizes racial equity that would benefit from legal and policy technical assistance. We can assist with work that is at any stage of development.

Since its inception, graduated driver licensing (GDL) has focused on minimizing the prevalence of motor vehicle crashes caused by new drivers, reducing related injuries and property damage. Some states have made another important addition to their driver education program—the impact of vehicle emissions on air quality.

Thanks to recent action by the Department of Agriculture, school lunches will become more nutritious. As the new federal standards roll out, states can support students’ health by increasing access to free school breakfast and lunch. Eight states have passed Health School Meals for All policies, providing comprehensive access to free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of income.

Attend this webinar to learn about the law and policy levers that can improve maternal health outcomes and increase access to reproductive health care, with concrete examples that can be implemented in any jurisdiction, regardless of laws regulating abortion care. This webinar will focus on state laws regulating access to direct-entry midwives and doulas and how improved access supports maternal health. The webinar will also describe an innovative state law designed to train and educate physician assistants and nurse practitioners who are permitted to provide sexual and reproductive health care.

Financial capability (financial literacy coupled with access to economic opportunity) has a positive, long-term effect on health. However, many people living in the margins financially are not adequately equipped with financial education and training to make the most of their employment or other financial resources. Over the past decade, states have increasingly adopted legislation requiring students in public schools to pass personal finance courses in order to graduate high school.