Context
Housing, alongside employment and work, stands out as one of the two most crucial material dimensions of individuals' lives. Expanding beyond mere bricks and mortar, housing encompasses a complex social system, comprising diverse subsystems across various levels.
Thus, it is a key social determinant of population health and health inequities, and also an important line of action for PAHO’s Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health Unit, which belong to PAHO's Department of Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity.
Topics
This webinar will address some of the challenges concerning housing and health in the Americas from PAHO’s perspective. This implies the research and concepts to understand the ways in which housing and health are closely related, describing five major pathways linking housing and health:
- housing quality and condition,
- residential stability and security, including the health implications of homelessness and migration,
- housing affordability,
- neighborhood context, and
- social connection and care.
In addition, this webinar will address key global policy implications of the relationship between housing and health, including the importance of health equity, the concept of the right to housing, and the value of trauma-informed and co-designed housing structures, programs, and services. Finally, there will be a space for reflection and debate, with the participation of three individuals involved in research and action on housing and health.
Goals
The goals of the webinar are:
- presenting an overview on regional challenges on housing and health from PAHO’s perspective,
- describing the five major pathways linking housing and health,
- examining the global policy implications of the relationship between housing and health, highlighting the goal of health equity.
How to join
DATE: Friday, 12 April 2024
TIME: 10:00am - 11:30am (ET, Washington DC)
OTHER TIME ZONES: Mexico (8:00am), Panama (9:00am), Argentina, Brasilia (11:00am).
LANGUAGES: English and Spanish
PLATFORM: Zoom
Agenda
10:00-10:10am - Introductions and welcome
Welcome remarks
Gerry Eijkemans, Director, Department of Social and Environmental Determinants of Health Equity, PAHO
Panelists introduction
Orielle Solar, unit chief, Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health Unit, PAHO
10:10-10:25am - Presentation
Overview of regional challenges on housing and health from PAHO's perspective
Hugo Vásquez, OPS
10:25-10:55am
Overview of research on the pillars of healthy housing: housing quality and condition, residential stability and security (including in the context of migration and refugees), housing affordability, neighborhood characteristics, and social connection and care (15 minutes)
Meghan Holton, researcher, School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo (United States)
Global policy implications: concept of health equity, the right to housing, importance of trauma-informed supportive services, importance of co-design (10 minutes)
Betsy Bowen, associate professor, School of Social Work, University at Buffalo (Unites States)
Summary and conclusion (5 minutes)
Besty Bowen, associate professor, School of Social Work, University at Buffalo (Unites States)
10:55-11:15am - Comments from three expert from academia, government, and civil society
Facilitator: Cristina Franceschini
Natalia Quinto, Group 'Vivienda y Hábitat de La Boca Resiste y Propone', Argentina
Roshanak Mehdipanah, associate professor, School of Public Health, University of Michigan (United States), and Director of Housing Solutions for Health Equity
Juan Guillermo Orozco, PAHO Guatemala
11:15-11:25am - Questions and answers
11:25-11:30am - Closing
Orielle Solar, unit chief, Health Promotion and Social Determinants of Health Unit, PAHO