{"id":3007,"date":"2021-11-20T11:18:05","date_gmt":"2021-11-20T17:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/?p=3007"},"modified":"2021-11-20T11:29:56","modified_gmt":"2021-11-20T17:29:56","slug":"the-problematic-history-of-housing-policy-part-two-of-our-housing-the-environment-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/2021\/11\/20\/the-problematic-history-of-housing-policy-part-two-of-our-housing-the-environment-series\/","title":{"rendered":"The Problematic History of Housing Policy: Part two of our housing &#038; the environment series"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>By Caitlyn Baylor, RAHFH Homeowner Services &amp; Grants Director<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In part one of our series on housing and the environment, we looked ahead at disparities that are just beginning to unfold in access to energy efficient housing. In part two, we look backward to gain insight on how past housing policy has impacted who is suffering the most under the climate crisis today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a recent episode of the podcast <em>On Being<\/em>, atmospheric scientist Katherine Hayhoe insightfully said that climate change is not merely impacting the environment \u2013 it is amplifying the most serious humanitarian crises we have on our planet. We are not only talking about a future where the ice caps melt to the detriment of polar bear habitat; we\u2019re talking about a future where cities like Rockford will have three \u201c100 year\u201d heat waves each summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you think about it, who will this impact the most?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Residents in different neighborhoods within the same city do not experience summer heat evenly. Low-income neighborhoods are hotter than wealthier neighborhoods. And when you look at where these hotter neighborhoods are, they are neighborhoods that were historically redlined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The racist policies of the mid-20<sup>th<\/sup> century that reinforced residential segregation and diverted investment away from Black neighborhoods continue to contribute to enormous disparities in many forms today. One of these disparities is in the \u201curban heat environment.\u201d Historically redlined neighborhoods across the country are now 5 to 12 degrees hotter in summer than wealthier and whiter parts of the same cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why? Because redlining contributed to development in these neighborhoods that meant fewer trees, fewer parks, tighter buildings, more concrete, and closer proximity to highways and industrial complexes. These environments absorb and radiate heat, and this has led to higher summer temperatures in these neighborhoods. The trees and vegetation more common in wealthier neighborhoods, in contrast, has led to cooler temperatures. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heat is the deadliest weather disaster in the United States, and with global warming intensifying, cities will have to confront that one of the many legacies of racist housing policy is that people of color remain more vulnerable to dangerous heat where they live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are starting to see that climate change is compounding existing inequalities in a multitude of ways. People who already suffered from higher rates of asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure\u2014 all conditions that are exacerbated by heat\u2014 are now living in hotter neighborhoods while lacking air conditioning. People who already had to walk long distances for food due to a lack of nearby stores and transportation are now doing so in higher temperatures. These are just two of many examples to illustrate the relationship that is forming between the climate crisis and the housing crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Connecting these dots, Patrick Canagasingham, chief operating officer of Habitat for Humanity International, recently urged delegates at the UN climate change conference to remember that \u201cthe housing and climate crises are interconnected. They cannot be solved in isolation but rather through holistic efforts that prioritize the needs of families most vulnerable to climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The intersection of these crises is a crossroad in our work. We can no longer hope to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live without also addressing the changing climate in which all housing is situated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The facts and statistics in this post are drawn from The New York Times\u2019 2020 article \u201cHow Decades of Racist housing policy left Neighborhoods Sweltering\u201d by Brad Plumer and Nadja Popovich.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Caitlyn Baylor, RAHFH Homeowner Services &amp; Grants Director In part one of our series on housing and the environment, we looked ahead at disparities that are just beginning to unfold in access to energy efficient housing. In part two, we look backward to gain insight on how past housing policy has impacted who is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":161727633,"featured_media":3010,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/rockford-redlining-map.jpg?fit=5760%2C7226&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb8kyv-Mv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3198,"url":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/2022\/01\/07\/habitat-internationals-position-on-climate-change-part-3-of-our-housing-the-environment-series\/","url_meta":{"origin":3007,"position":0},"title":"Habitat International&#8217;s Position on Climate Change: Part 3 of Our Housing &#038; the Environment Series","author":"Community Engagement","date":"enero 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"So far in our series on the overlap between housing justice and environmental justice, we explored emerging disparities in access to energy-efficient housing as well as disparities in the urban heat environment that have been cemented by decades of development patterns informed by discriminatory policies. These examples of interwoven issues\u2026","rel":"","context":"En \"climate change\"","block_context":{"text":"climate change","link":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/tag\/climate-change\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Untitled-Facebook-Cover.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Untitled-Facebook-Cover.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Untitled-Facebook-Cover.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Untitled-Facebook-Cover.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Untitled-Facebook-Cover.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3443,"url":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/2022\/03\/04\/small-steps-big-impacts-conclusion-to-our-housing-the-environment-series\/","url_meta":{"origin":3007,"position":1},"title":"Small Steps, Big Impacts: Conclusion to our Housing &#038; the Environment Series","author":"Community Engagement","date":"marzo 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Caitlyn Baylor, Homeowner Services & Grants Director Source: Vox's article \"The Best Way to Reduce your Personal Carbon Emissions: Don\u2019t Be Rich\" Over the last couple of months, we have shared a series of blog posts about the relationship between the climate crisis and the housing crisis, or conversely,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Entrada similar ","block_context":{"text":"Entrada similar ","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/earth-blue-planet-globe-planet-87651.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/earth-blue-planet-globe-planet-87651.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/earth-blue-planet-globe-planet-87651.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/earth-blue-planet-globe-planet-87651.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/earth-blue-planet-globe-planet-87651.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2945,"url":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/2021\/10\/15\/the-energy-burden-gap-part-one-of-our-housing-the-environment-series\/","url_meta":{"origin":3007,"position":2},"title":"The Energy Burden Gap: Part One of Our Housing &#038; the Environment Series","author":"Community Engagement","date":"octubre 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By Caitlyn Baylor Have you read the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report? It\u2019s a very sobering assessment of the unprecedented and irreversible climate changes underway throughout our world. You will often hear us say that Habitat for Humanity works to create a world where everyone has a decent\u2026","rel":"","context":"Entrada similar ","block_context":{"text":"Entrada similar ","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"closeup photo of sprout","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/pexels-photo-1002703.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/pexels-photo-1002703.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/pexels-photo-1002703.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/pexels-photo-1002703.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/pexels-photo-1002703.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2087,"url":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/2021\/01\/28\/furthering-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-at-rahfh\/","url_meta":{"origin":3007,"position":3},"title":"Furthering Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at RAHFH","author":"Community Engagement","date":"enero 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By Glasa Gottschalk The world has been forever changed by 2020.\u00a0 At the Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity (RAHFH), it was the year we launched our first ever Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.\u00a0 Alongside the rest of our country, our organization was confronted with the inequity existing in our\u2026","rel":"","context":"Entrada similar ","block_context":{"text":"Entrada similar ","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Untitled-design-8.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Untitled-design-8.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Untitled-design-8.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Untitled-design-8.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Untitled-design-8.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2344,"url":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/2021\/04\/12\/habitat-and-the-environment-how-comed-helps-our-homes-go-green\/","url_meta":{"origin":3007,"position":4},"title":"Habitat and the environment: How ComEd helps our homes go green.","author":"Community Engagement","date":"abril 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"As an affiliate, we hope to be as conscientious as possible when it comes to our environmental footprint. That\u2019s why we are so thankful for our partnership with the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program. This program is an incentive program for the new construction of affordable housing. To break it down,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Entrada similar ","block_context":{"text":"Entrada similar ","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"green plant leaf with drops in nature","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pexels-photo-6805857-1.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pexels-photo-6805857-1.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pexels-photo-6805857-1.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pexels-photo-6805857-1.jpeg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2249,"url":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/2021\/03\/19\/the-faith-build-put-your-faith-into-action-in-your-community\/","url_meta":{"origin":3007,"position":5},"title":"The Faith Build: Put your faith into action in your community","author":"Community Engagement","date":"marzo 19, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Jill (left) with a Habitat homeowner One of Jill Kruckenberg\u2019s first experiences with Habitat for Humanity was a Framing Day in Rockford a few years ago. Little did she know that this day would impact her for a very long time. Jill found herself working alongside an excited, nervous, empowered\u2026","rel":"","context":"Entrada similar ","block_context":{"text":"Entrada similar ","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Thrivent-build-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Thrivent-build-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Thrivent-build-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rockfordhabitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Thrivent-build-rotated.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/161727633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3007"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3007\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3011,"href":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3007\/revisions\/3011"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rockfordhabitat.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}