Creating Healthy Communities

Nearly one out of eight Californians live in poverty.¹

Everyone has a right to live a healthy life with easy access to meet their basic needs. Some communities, however, have a higher risk of being in poverty from factors that are beyond their control, such as institutional and structural racism, discrimination, and reduced access to stable housing, healthy foods, and safe neighborhoods. Poverty can also limit an individual’s access to educational and employment opportunities, further contributing to income inequality and prolonging cyclical and generational effects of poverty. Poverty is associated with societal exclusion and higher prevalence of mental illness as well as higher rates of chronic diseases and premature death. Strategies to improve economic mobility of families may help alleviate the negative impacts of poverty and break the generational cycle of poverty.2²

There are many ways to measure poverty. The California Poverty Measure (CPM) tracks the percent of residents living in poverty, taking into account income, cost of living, and social safety net benefits.

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A stable job with fair pay leads to better health.¹

Stable employment allows people to afford the goods and services that are necessary to meet basic needs and wellbeing. Economic opportunity, especially having a job, is one the most powerful predictors of good health.² Unemployment, especially for people in or near poverty, is associated with higher rates of stress-related illnesses and increased mortality.^3,4 These negative health outcomes affect not only the unemployed persons but can extend to their families. Longer unemployment can increase risk of these negative health effects.³

This indicator tracks the percentage of labor force who are unemployed.³

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Housing cost burden is linked to poor health outcomes, preventable deaths, and housing instability or homelessness¹

Housing is considered affordable when the cost of housing makes up 30% or less of a household’s income.² Housing cost burden happens when a household spends more than 30% of income on housing, which leaves less money left over to cover other necessities like food, transportation, and health care.

This indicator tracks the percent of households in California that experience housing cost burden.

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Access to healthy, safe, affordable food is important for a nutritious diet and good health¹

Access to affordable healthy food promotes healthy eating patterns and is crucial to reducing food insecurity, reducing hunger, and improving health.^1,2 People experiencing food insecurity have limited, uncertain, or inconsistent access to adequate food that supports good health.  Further, low-income households, communities of color, immigrants, people living in rural areas, and people living with disabilities experience food insecurity at disproportionate rates.  Consumption of healthy foods — like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains —reduces risk for chronic diseases and can improve health; while consuming unhealthy foods — like foods high in saturated fat and added sugars —increase the risk for obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other health problems.  In lower income neighborhoods there are fewer large chain supermarkets and grocery stores with affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, but convenience stores and small markets with overpriced fruits and vegetables are prevalent.  People with low incomes living in food deserts — areas with few options for securing affordable and healthy foods— are often reliant on foods that are convenient to access but low in nutrients, which increases the likelihood of experience chronic health conditions.^3,4

Progress in increasing food access and affordability is being tracked using two indicators. The first indicator tracks the percent of adults with a low income (under 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL)) who reported that they were not able to afford enough food. The second indicator tracks the percent of healthier food retailers available in California, as defined by the modified retail food environment index (mRFEI).

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Safe streets make communities healthier¹

Increasing the amount of walking trips an individual makes can help meet recommended physical activity goals and improve fitness.² Neighborhoods and workplaces should have the infrastructure to support those activities.⁶

This indicator shows the percent of individuals that walk to work.

This data is being presented as an alternative indicator for the original “Annual number of walk trips per capita” which was from a national survey that is no longer available. Exploration of additional data is underway to develop more comprehensive measures of walk trips per capita in California.

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Make our communities healthy and violence-free

Community members cannot thrive or enjoy good health unless they are safe. Violence is a public health issue. Violence and fear of violence increase the risk of poor health outcomes and also undermine the community supports and conditions that would otherwise promote health and well-being.¹

Violence in its many forms, such as child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, gang violence, and gun violence, is a leading cause of injury, disability, and premature death. It impacts the health of individuals, families, and communities, and can be a barrier to healthy eating and active living, community cohesion, and community economic development.²

Feeling unsafe may lead people to avoid walking, biking, or taking public transportation; have fewer interactions with neighbors; keep their children from playing outside; and, stay indoors rather than seek out goods and services they need such as groceries, or medical appointments.³ Safe communities that provide opportunities to be active and eat well support people in making healthy choices.

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