Formerly Redlined Neighborhoods Have Higher COVID-19 Prevalence, Study Says

Add COVID-19 to the list of long-term consequences of the racist and discriminatory regulatory and lending practices of the 20th century.

1 minute read

September 14, 2020, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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Kits Pix / Shutterstock

A report published last week by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition finds that formerly redlined neighborhoods are at greater risk for COVID-19.

According to the "Redlining and Neighborhood Health" report, formerly redlined neighborhoods "suffer not only from reduced wealth and greater poverty, but from lower life expectancy and higher incidence of chronic diseases that are risk factors for poor outcomes from COVID-19," according to the website that shares the new study.

Jared Brey, writing for Next City, provides news coverage of the report, describing the study's methodology, sharing soundbites front he researchers who worked on the report, and also mentioning the recommendations included in the report. 

Brey writes: "The report builds on previous reporting on how the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately harmed Black communities. In order to address the disparities, the report’s authors recommend implementing inclusionary zoning to create affordable housing outside of redlined neighborhoods, restoring the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule, and expanding housing vouchers and the Community Reinvestment Act."

Friday, September 11, 2020 in Next City

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