Democracy Will Advance Health Equity By Addressing Housing Insecurity and Homelessness

AHCH will Advocate for Legislation During 2021 New Mexico Legislative Session

People experiencing homelessness struggle to maintain a safe and healthy place to live and typically have poorer physical and mental health outcomes and are at greater risk for infection during the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to other challenges. In response, and thanks to AHCH Street Medicine Outreach Program and Albuquerque’s frontline response team, people who are, and have been affected by COVID-19 are being housed at wellness sites around Albuquerque to reduce the risk of exposure among vulnerable populations during this public health crisis. However, these short-term solutions won’t be enough. Also required is an effective deployment of COVID-19 vaccines for people experiencing homelessness, affordable housing, access to high quality integrated healthcare, and an opportunity to earn a living wage that will equitably improve quality of life for individuals and an opportunity to end their homelessness. Further, AHCH will advocate for legislation during the 2021 New Mexico Legislative Session to protect this population during the COVID-19 pandemic, and address the housing crisis in our state while advocating for the long-term policy and system solutions needed to end homelessness. We believe the late-Supreme Court Justice Ruther Bader Ginsburg said it best: "We have the oldest written constitution still in force in the world, and it starts out with three words: 'We, the people.'"

Trust and belief in our democracy are needed to advance health equity by effectively addressing housing insecurity and homelessness with our state’s legislators. Trust for America's Health highlights the disproportionate and long-existing economic and health disparities among people who are housing insecure or experiencing homelessness. More info: https://bit.ly/38VVnlo #AdvocacyMatters #EndHomelessness #TheyAreAlbuquerque #PublicPolicy Image Credit: Albuquerque Nob Hill mural by local artist Nazario Sandoval.

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