Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022 | 2 a.m.
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The pandemic highlighted the unmistakable link between housing and health care. The directive: stay home to stay safe.
The message was clear. And as businesses opened their doors and people started to return to work, the months that followed brought forth the national concern of the economy and maintaining housing for all those who had it.
Less apparent, however, is the number of families whose health was at risk prior to the pandemic based on their housing situation, and the effect of housing on our economy.
Living conditions with physical hazards have a more obvious negative health outcome, however, where unsafe neighborhoods with high crime leave little to no place for children to play outdoors or adults to exercise. It is lower-income community members who are forced to live in these areas or who choose to live in safer neighborhoods but, in doing so, sacrifice their ability to pay rent over adequate food options and basic medical care.
The greater number of residents unable to live in safe and affordable housing also affects the health of our economy. When households spend just 30% or less of their income on rent or a mortgage, they have more to contribute toward other goods and services such as food, entertainment, transportation, education and savings. Further, Nevada’s lack of affordable housing is a deterrent for new companies. The more we wish to attract new industries and the ancillary industries that support them, the more we need to provide housing for their workers.
Not ironically, the health care technologies and research industry has only seen a 1,500-job growth over the past decade, according to the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance’s latest Target Industries Report. This contributes to Nevada’s lack of health care options and poor population indicators. Nevada ranks 50th regarding health care access, and 30th in health care quality.
Nevada also offers the least amount of affordable housing per resident in need.
We can take a significant step, though. Medicaid provides the opportunity to combine housing and health care as a response to the critical needs of our valley’s most vulnerable residents.
Nevada can reduce health care spending when other social needs are met, including housing. It is incumbent upon local and state representatives to work together to create mechanisms that invest in smart strategies to keep people housed and healthy — which saves Nevada from spending money on costly medical procedures as a reaction to our lack of investment in quality of life.
We have all come to know the struggle when it comes to finding affordable housing — we experience it ourselves, with our friends or family, or we see it firsthand in our communities. More often than not, those who make just enough are unqualified to receive assistance but still make too little to pay for housing.
The link between housing, health and the economy begs us to exhaust every benefit available to ensure Nevadans can obtain and maintain affordable housing.
Brian Knudsen was elected to the Las Vegas City Council in 2019. He serves Ward 1.
