Missionaries of the Sacred

Although health insurance is crucial to making sure everyone has access to health care, good health requires much more than just insurance coverage. In order to maintain our health, we must have access to other goods such as adequate shelter and healthy foods, and people living in low income areas sometimes have much less access to these resources. Have you ever noticed how certain neighborhoods seem to have a lot of convenience stores and fast food restaurant chains but no real grocery stores? Or have fewer recreational areas? Lack of access to a grocery store means that families have more difficulty buying healthy foods such as lean meats and fruits and vegetables. Similarly, lack of sidewalks or parks create fewer opportunities for exercise, while a high crime rate may cause people not to use recreational areas and parents to keep their children indoors.

There is also a correlation between health and housing quality.  For instance, several studies have linked asthma with poor housing conditions. Moisture in a house is associated with mold as well as the infestation of roaches and mice. Exposure to dampness and mold in the home contributes to an estimated 21% of current asthma cases in the United States and roaches and mice produce allergens which can aggravate asthma. People who cannot afford adequate housing are thus at a higher risk of exposure to conditions which contribute to health problems.

Where we live has a profound impact on our health. In order to ensure equal access to good health, we must also address the environmental factors that disproportionately affect people living in low-income areas.