About
Health inequities are increasing in Canada, despite (near) universal access to essential health services. These inequities are mostly due to the social determinants of health, which impact health through their influence on access to basic necessities, self-perception and social status, educational and employment opportunities and treatment within health services. This project focuses on local experiments in improving economic, food and housing security that are alternatives to market-based approaches. We will seek to identify the key ingredients that have contributed to their success, and whether there has been a link to healthcare services.
Impact
This project will bring together ideas about alternative solutions to housing, income and food insecurity into the mainstream. This research will support local organizations in fostering, scaling, and widely adopting successful alternatives. Knowledge generated will be mobilized through several community-based and scholarly outlets and will serve as a foundation for exploring the role of health organizations in supporting new approaches to addressing the social determinants of health as part of integrated care. Over time, we expect health care providers to regularly ask about patients’ social needs and connect them with the right support to improve overall health.