Subject: Health, Food Access, Housing, Community Development, Child/Youth Welfare
Deadline: Ongoing
“The quality of one’s health is determined by multiple factors: the natural environment, lifestyle, genetic factors and, to a small degree, medical care. Yet, for many people, it is the conditions in which they live that most inhibit their health. Their neighborhoods have limited access to affordable fresh food, safe places for recreation, high-quality education and living-wage jobs. They may be exposed to environmental hazards due to the proximity of polluting industries and substandard housing. Addressing these conditions begins to promote health equity among people in low-income neighborhoods and fosters improved health for entire communities.
Through this focus area, we support three initiatives:
Healthy Housing and Neighborhoods – Housing can serve as a platform for achieving a healthier quality of life. We support efforts that reduce substandard housing through healthy-housing policies and practices as well as partnerships with the community development and affordable-housing sectors to increase investments in healthy communities. We support activities that speed the adoption of programs, policies and practices that promote safe, stable housing for vulnerable people. We are interested in community development efforts that foster health and connect low-income residents to opportunity.
Healthy Food Systems that benefit low-income communities – A healthy diet is fundamental to good health. But many people and families, especially low-income communities of color, face limited access to fresh, healthy food. Our food system contributes to obesity, compromising children’s health and adding pressure and cost to an already-stressed health system. We believe that local food systems can benefit health and economic development in low-income communities. We encourage new practices that increase access to affordable, healthy food and bolster the growth of local food systems serving low-income communities. We are especially interested in the economic impact local food systems can have in these communities.
Equitable Transportation and Land Use – (Currently there are no grants available in this focus area) The way we design and construct our physical environments, landscapes and streetscapes greatly influence health. These decisions shape the level of people’s physical activity and affect the air they breathe and the water they drink. They can also have a profound effect on physical safety. We support activities that expand and strengthen community efforts to influence policies in ways that improve health and safety. We fund efforts that advance urban and transit planning in ways that will improve community health.
Funder: The Kresge Foundation
Eligibility: “U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations with audited financial statements that are not classified as private foundations. Government entities in the United States.”
Amount: Unspecified
Contact: Link.
