By Suzanne Anarde-Devenport, RCAC Chief Executive Officer
Several years ago, I spoke at the Hawaiian housing conference. I had a bit of an outline for my remarks, but as I sat in the audience listening to other speakers and their messages, it struck me that the word that was resounding for me as the overarching value of having a home was the word “heal.” I opened my remarks with the phrase “Home is Where We Heal” and framed the remainder of my remarks around that concept. Afterward, my Native Hawaiian friend Robin Danner came up to me with tears in her eyes and shared that she had not ever heard home described in that manner. She said it spoke to her heart, as it had mine. As we celebrate National Homeownership month in June, I am reminded of that phrase.
I am a professed homebody, although my travel schedule doesn’t always support or align with that comment! When the world seems harsh and cold, walking into my home not only gives me joy and safety but it provides a place to rest, relax and heal from whatever ailments (physical, emotional or mental) I might have.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilize the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and that was one of the first places that I saw the connection between health and housing. SDOH are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Understanding data on SDOH that can enhance or hinder health, such as income, educational level, employment, language and literacy skills, and access to health care, safe housing, nutritious foods and physical activity opportunities, can help focus efforts to improve people’s health on a local level. Numerous data sets contain SDOH measures.
How does housing influence health? A safe home away from potential hazards can promote well-being. Conversely, living in unsafe or unsuitable housing may contribute to health inequities and be a factor in health problems. Considering we spend roughly 90 percent of our time indoors, with most of that in our homes, the potential impact housing can have on our health outcomes is enormous. Experts associate inferior quality housing with many negative health outcomes, including chronic diseases, injuries and poor mental health.
Quality and safety considerations include biological (allergens, such as mold, rodents, etc.); chemical (lead, asbestos, radon, etc.); physical (improper ventilation, temperature controls, etc.); and social (overcrowding, living in poverty and fear of crime).
Housing affordability, neighborhoods and stability also significant affect health.
When I first entered the housing world, I ran a housing rehabilitation program for homeowners in rural southeastern Colorado. The need for the program was quickly evident as the first grant ran out within seven months instead of the year term. Homeownership stood at 65 percent in the counties I served, and 87 percent of the homes were over 40 years old. And while the homeownership dream was highly valued in southeastern Colorado, reaching that goal had become increasingly difficult with the aged housing stock available. And maintaining safe and sanitary housing for homeowners was also difficult. Because homeownership was so important to me as an individual and for my family, it took me a short six weeks into my role to create a housing rehab program, and I knew I had found my calling in life. Taking circumstances in rural communities that make things difficult for families and leveraging those to bring opportunities was (and is!) what makes me tick.
Mid-pandemic, I bought my second home and became a permanent California resident. To be honest, buying my first home alone was terrifying in 1995. And it was just as terrifying in 2021. Both times, caring professionals supported me through the traditional real estate and mortgage process. And…both times, there had been major turmoil in my life, and I needed and wanted a place to “heal.”
As June highlights the importance of homeownership, I sit in my peaceful home drafting this article. I am incredibly honored to continue to be in a place professionally at RCAC where I still get to play a small role in supporting and promoting home ownership. And others who surround me devote their time and treasure to the Mutual Self-Help Housing program to ensure others have this unique rural pathway to homeownership. Kudos to each of you and the families who have achieved the homeownership goal and to those that are on their way.
The definition of heal is “to cause a person to become sound and/or healthy again.” Home is truly where we go to heal. And each of you are healers in so many ways through your work in Mutual Self-Help Housing.
Also in this issue of Self-Help Builder:
