Housing Emerges as Top Health Concern in Kent County, New Assessment Reveals
Kent County residents now identify housing as their primary health concern, according to the latest Community Health Needs Assessment by the Kent County Health Department. This comprehensive assessment, issued every three years, spans over 160 pages and incorporates feedback from more than 5,000 residents.
Maris Brummel, a public health epidemiologist with the county, stated that housing was the most frequently mentioned issue. “People were not only concerned about finding and obtaining affordable housing,” Brummel said, “but also about being pushed out of their current homes.”
The assessment reveals that one-third of county residents live in housing that consumes more than 30% of their income, classifying it as unaffordable. Renters are particularly burdened, with rent costs increasing by 36% from 2020 to 2023. Additionally, a growing number of Black and Hispanic residents reported being unable to afford rent or mortgage payments in the past year.
Brummel explained that housing impacts health in multiple ways, including safety and environmental pollutants such as lead. “Housing is almost a prerequisite to good health,” she said. “Without a safe, stable place to live, it’s difficult to focus on anything else that affects health.”
While housing topped the list of concerns, it was not the only issue. Many residents reported difficulties accessing insurance and medical care, with immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals particularly affected. Additionally, access to healthy foods was a significant concern, with nearly 20% of residents struggling to afford nutritious food, or any food at all, in the past year.
