Health

A factory smoke stack billows out black smoke into a blue sky.

24 States Sue EPA Over New Soot Pollution Limit

The agency cites health risks of air pollution as reason for the new limit; states appear concerned it will kill their economies.

March 11, 2024 - The Hill

Close-up of person spraying pest control

Getting Medicaid to Pay for Pest Control

For children who have asthma, pests like cockroaches and mice can trigger allergic reactions and lead to recurring and expensive hospital visits. Could insurers save money by investing in housing-based improvements like pest management services?

June 8, 2022 - Shelterforce Magazine

Pace Flag

Affordable Housing for LGBTQ Seniors

LGBTQ elders are more likely than their age-peers to have experienced discrimination, leaving them more likely to be poor and have chronic health problems. LGBTQ-friendly senior housing aims to provide a safe and supportive place to age.

January 12, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

Tomatoes

Forming Partnerships With Public Health Departments: How to Make the Connection

Tips for community organizations looking to build relationships with local public health departments.

November 6, 2020 - Shelterforce Magazine

Agriculture Exhibition

Urban Farming Program Struggles to Sprout

Los Angeles created a tax incentive to promote urban farms on the thousands of vacant lots around the city. So far, the incentive has been given out only four times.

July 31, 2018 - CityLab

Bryant Park

Downtown Won't Kill You

Despite the stress and pollution of urban life, even the most dense, traffic-clogged cities may be as healthy as streetcar suburbs.

April 30, 2018 - Michael Lewyn

Hospital Signs

Chicago Hospitals Could House Homeless Patients

Given the fact that many homeless patients end up costing the system a lot more than average, several Chicago hospitals are considering ways to house them.

January 24, 2018 - Crain's Chicago Business

Pedestrians

Op-Ed: Planners Could Do More to Encourage Healthy Communities

In many locales, instruments like traffic studies take pedestrian health into little account. According to Lark Lo, healthy communities haven't been much of a priority at all.

November 18, 2017 - Next City

New York City Pedestrians

'Walking Summit' Highlights Long Path Ahead

A piece from the Congress for the New Urbanism discusses the 2017 National Walking Summit. The proceedings included the release of the nation's first walkability report card.

November 6, 2017 - Public Square: A CNU Journal

Green Healthy Community

Ten Key Ingredients of a Green and Healthy Community

Everyone has a different answer on what makes a great place, depending on how wonky you'd like to get. Kaid Benfield lists his top 10 ingredients for a healthy community.

September 18, 2017 - PlaceMakers

Fast Food Restaurants

Transportation Access, Inactivity, and Obesity Play a Role in Cancer Deaths

As smoking related cancer deaths decline, other unhealthy lifestyle choices are quickly replacing it as a leading causes of cancer.

June 13, 2017 - USA Today

Straphangers

Study: Transit Really Does Reduce Obesity

It's difficult to definitively link transit use with lower rates of obesity, but it makes intuitive sense. Here's another attempt, using county-level data.

May 21, 2017 - Pacific Standard

Hospital Signs

Report: 20-Year Regional Disparities in Life Expectancy

Life expectancy may be rising in the nation as a whole, but in some areas it's going down. Regional gaps are widening.

May 11, 2017 - The Washington Post

Chicago Lake Michigan Trees

Study: Greenery Improves Quality and Length of Life

Living near vegetation appears to be linked to a longer life and better mental health—for women, at least.

May 5, 2017 - CNN

Two Brothers Walk to School

Why So Early? School Start Times and Suburban Sprawl

The advent of sprawl coincided with a move toward earlier school start times, prompted by a need to coordinate complicated bussing. If students could walk to school, the problem might disappear.

April 6, 2017 - CityLab

Baltimore Demolition

When the Dust Settles: Removing Blight, But Spreading Toxins

Data regarding ongoing demolitions of blighted properties in cities across the U.S. has turned up some unexpected consequences: the spread of lead toxins into the surrounding community.

February 25, 2017 - The Nation

Place Dauphine in Paris

The Trifecta: Urbanism, Architecture, and Nature

Susan Henderson shares some thoughts about the alignment of issues contributing to well-being in cities.

February 1, 2017 - PlaceShakers

Gainesville Park

Gainesville Turns Abandoned Industrial Hub Into Innovative Park

Gainesville turns contaminated land into a contemporary public greenspace to serve as the city's “Central Park."

January 17, 2017 - Modern Cities

Mumbai, India

Mumbai Cuts Noise Pollution to Improve Health

Traffic police in Mumbai have launched a campaign to cut down on unnecessary honking by motorists in the city of Mumbai

November 26, 2016 - The Indian Express

Piedmont Park Atlanta

The Makings of Healthy Places

What makes for a healthy place? Kaid Benfield points to density of dwellings, intersections and public transport, plus access to parks.

September 6, 2016 - PlaceShakers

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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Mpact Transit + Community

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.