Kansas City Center Addresses Maternal Health Disparities

Several initiatives across the U.S. are addressing housing and health disparities through innovative community partnerships and programs. In Kansas City, Altruism Inc. has partnered with Samuel Rodgers Health Center to launch a maternal and infant care facility focused on reducing the disproportionate mortality rates among Black and Brown women by providing comprehensive health and social services. Clarksville, Tennessee, is collaborating with nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity and the Appalachian Service Project to develop affordable housing and transitional homes for families affected by natural disasters and housing insecurity. In Scotland, Housing Justice’s Faith in Affordable Housing program is repurposing church buildings and land to create new social and affordable homes, expanding its successful model from Wales and England. Meanwhile, in St. Paul, Minnesota, the West Side Community Organization offers a deferred loan program providing up to $110,000 to descendants of families displaced by mid-20th century urban development, aiding them in homeownership and addressing historical displacement impacts. These efforts reflect a broader commitment to tackling systemic inequities in housing and health outcomes through community-driven solutions.