Where we live and how we live have a big impact on health and well-being. In communities across the country, housing is becoming less affordable. Housing challenges undermine the health of people living in our communities, often forcing them to cut back on meals or postpone needed medical care.

Health systems like Kaiser Permanente are increasingly joining with other partners across industries to improve access to affordable housing.

At Kaiser Permanente, we believe communities must:

• Support the building and preservation of affordable housing
• Identify support for renters and low-income homeowners
• Engage with cross-sector partners 

In support of our policy priorities, Kaiser Permanente has: 

• Advocated at the federal level for low-income housing tax credits that expand access to affordable housing and help keep families in their homes
• Supported housing bonds at the state and local level that increase the affordable housing supply and aid homelessness programs
• Encouraged city governments to pass inclusionary zoning policies that promote affordable housing development and reduce segregation
  
  

¹ Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2019.
² Yardi Matrix, 2020.
³ Kaiser Permanente, 2021.