HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/17/2020 Item 13, Rutland
From:Kayla M Rutland <
To:Purrington, Teresa
Cc:CityClerk
Subject:Comment RE: Agenda Item 13 SLO Countywide Regional Compact
Attachments:156A_Regional Compact_City of SLO.pdf
Dear Ms. Purrington,
The Healthy Communities Work Group would like to submit the attached letter of support for item 13
on the 3/17/20 City Council Agenda: Regional Infrastructure and Affordable Housing Strategic Action
Plan Countywide Compact.
We request that our comment is distributed to Council Members ahead of tomorrow’s meeting.
Thank you,
Kayla Rutland
Community Wellness Health Education Specialist
County of San Luis Obispo Health Agency | Public Health
(805) 781-1560 | krutland@co.slo.ca.us
slopublichealth.org
facebook | healslo.org
This e-mail, and any files transmitted with it, are intended only for the person or entity to which it is
addressed and may contain confidential, protected, and/or privileged material. Any review, re-
transmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon this information by
persons or entities other than the intended recipient, is prohibited. If you received this in error, please
contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.
1
COALITION PARTNERS:
Bike SLO County
Cal Poly State University
Community Action Partnership of SLO County
First 5 San Luis Obispo County
Independent Living Resource Center, Inc.
Rideshare – Safe Routes to School
Smart Share Housing Solutions
SLO Council of Governments
SLO County Departments:
Air Pollution Control District
Board of Supervisors
Health Commission
Public Health
Environmental Health
SLO County YIMBY
RESOURCES:
Data Dashboard, SLO Health Counts
Healthy Communities Webpage
Community Health Improvement Plan
HEAL-SLO is a community coalition addressing complex and overlapping health challenges through integrated solutions. In carrying out that
mission, a subcommittee called the Healthy Communities Work Group provides responses to Planning staff fr om a healthy community’s
perspective on proposed land development projects, ordinance and general plan amendments, and special projects.
City of San Luis Obispo Council
990 Palm St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
RE: San Luis Obispo Countywide Regional Compact
Dear Council Members of San Luis Obispo,
The Healthy Communities Work Group is a collaboration between public
health officials, local planning and transportation officials, community-based
organizations, academia, and community members, working to improve
health through community design. We provide research and evidence-based
recommendations from a health perspective on proposed land use projects,
ordinance and general plan amendments, and special projects.
The Healthy Communities Work Group strongly supports the adoption of the
San Luis Obispo Countywide Regional Compact.
Lack of housing availability and affordability negatively impacts physical and
mental health (see attachment, “Health and Housing”). In light of the critical
connection between health and housing, San Luis Obispo’s Community Health
Improvement Plan has identified this issue as a key priority, and set a
community goal to “improve access to affordable, attainable, safe and
supportive housing”1.
The Regional Compact provides a united regional framework to address
housing and infrastructure challenges. The Healthy Communities Work group
urges the City Council to adopt the Regional Compact in an effort to unite
around common infrastructure and housing goals, and ultimately advance the
wellbeing of all residents.
Sincerely,
Chuck Stevenson
Chuck Stevenson, AICP
Chair, Healthy Communities Work Group
________________________________________________________________
1SLO County Community Health Improvement Plan,
http://www.slohealthcounts.org/tiles/index/display?alias=CHIP
Health & Housing:
Building the Connection
H e a l t h a n d h o u s i n g a r e d i r e c t l y c o n n e c t e d . I n S a n L u i s O b i s p o C o u n t y , h o u s i n gaffordability i s a c r i s i s t h a t s h a p e s h o m e a n d n e i g h b o r h o o d c o n d i t i o n s a n d a f f e c t s t h eoverall a b i l i t y o f r e s i d e n t s t o m a k e h e a l t h y c h o i c e s
Housing Affordability & Stability: Access to affordable
housing enables families to spend more on food, health
care, and medical insurance, which improves health
outcomes. Housing stability encourages residents to
develop roots and build community.
Neighborhood Conditions: A neighborhood’s physical
attributes can enhance health by facilitating
walkability/bikeability and access to public
transportation, parks, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Social and community attributes, such as segregation
and the concentration of poverty, can negatively impact
health.
Conditions within the Home: Well-constructed and well-maintained housing can reduce health issues associated with
poor-quality housing, including: physiological health (lead, radon, mold, extreme temperatures); psychological health
(noise, inadequate light, security); and safety (falls, fires).
San Luis Obispo County ranked as the 6th
least-affordable housing market in the
nation in 2018.
The accessibility, availability, and affordability of healthy
food options increases likelihoods that residents will
have a balanced, nutritious diet.
Pedestrian and bike-friendly neighborhood design
reduces car usage, supports transit ridership, and
improves air quality.
In addition to promoting individual health, social
cohesion fosters community health by building
community trust; therefore increasing neighborhood
safety, reducing crime, and increasing pedestrian
activity.
In San Luis Obispo County, only 28.8% of adults walk
regularly (150 minutes a week or more) [3].
The California Office of Traffic Safety ranked San Luis
Obispo County as the 6th worst county in the state for
bicycle safety based on collision numbers [4].
Adults living in unaffordable housing are more likely
to describe themselves as being in fair or poor health
compared to similar individuals living in affordable
housing.
Unstable housing and crowding are linked to elevated
stress levels, depression, an increase in behavioral
and mental health issues, and an increased exposure
to infectious disease.
In San Luis Obispo County, 51.8% of renters spend
30% or more of household income on rent [1] .
National Association of Home Builders & Wells Fargo [2]
Unaffordable housing forces some residents to accept unhealthy or unsafe housing conditions, causing negative
health outcomes such as asthma, lead poisoning, burns and falls.
Researchers have documented that the current housing stock is ill-equipped to accommodate the growing share
of older and impaired adults, indicating an increasing need for home modifications that allow for maximum
residential mobility as homeowners age.
In San Luis Obispo County, 23.7% of residents face “severe housing problems”, meaning one or more of the
following: overcrowding, high housing costs, lack of kitchen, or lack of plumbing [5].
To learn more about the Healthy Communities Work Group
visit www.HEALSLO.com or call 805-781-1560
“Now, in light of the growing body of evidence about the many ways
that housing can affect health, it is clear that strategies must be
multifaceted ─ focusing on improving the physical quality of housing,
on strengthening health-promoting social as well as physical
conditions in neighborhoods, and on increasing access to affordable
housing for all Americans.”
The Healthy Communities Work Group presents the 5 P’s framework as a
starting point for cities and communities in San Luis Obispo County to limit
housing instability and improve the health of our residents:
1. Protection of existing residents by ensuring renters
can remain in their homes instead of facing the health
impacts of housing instability or displacement.
2. Preservation of existing housing at all affordability
levels despite changing economic conditions. By
rehabilitating aging or substandard housing, residents
can remain active and engaged in the communities they
call home.
3. Production of new housing units at a diversity of
affordability levels. Local jurisdictions can make balanced
housing production a priority through regulations and
incentives for developers and by using public resources
for housing development. By implementing creative
solutions, such as repurposing underutilized properties,
housing can be made available at a range of affordability
levels.
4. Participation of residents and community leaders in
decision-making processes that impact their housing
stability. When residents are engaged and invested in
the planning process, health outcomes improve.
5. Placement of housing near transit, jobs and
amenities. Homes in SLO County must support
residents’ health in a comprehensive, holistic way by
providing easy access to healthy food and physical
activity opportunities and acting as a buffer from
sources of pollution.
There are many solutions to our community’s diverse
housing challenges. By implementing a multifaceted
approach, San Luis Obispo County can improve the
wellbeing of residents through equitable access to
healthy housing.
Citations:
1. American Community Survey. Data Collected 2012-2016.
SLO Health Counts
2. National Association of Homebuilders & Wells Fargo Housing
Opportunity Index.
3. California Health Interview Survey. Data Collected 2013-
2014. SLO Health Counts.
4. Office of Traffic Safety Report (2015).
5. County Health Rankings. Data Collected 2010-2014. SLO
Health Counts.
Resources:
Healthy Communities Dashboard, SLO Health Counts
The Impacts of Affordable Housing on Health: A Research
Summary. Center for Housing Policy. 2015
Housing and health: new opportunities for dialogue and action.
National Center for Healthy Housing.
Where we live matters for our health: the links between housing
and health. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Commission to
Build a Healthier America. 2008
-Robert Wood Johnson Foundation