February 08, 2024

A federal court has temporarily halted the use of one of the Environmental Protection Agency’s key tools for rooting out racial discrimination. This could jeopardize decades of progress in addressing pollution disparities in Black communities like Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. Advocates warn the decision undermines efforts to combat racial discrimination in environmental policies and threatens the health and well-being of Black residents in polluted areas.

In San Diego, hospital patients experiencing homelessness face challenges securing shelter upon discharge, despite state mandates to prioritize beds for this population. The city lacks dedicated beds or direct hospital access to shelters, leaving discharged patients competing for scarce beds and often ending up back on the streets. Hospitals, city officials, and advocates are working to address this challenge, urging systemic improvements and collaboration.

A potential soft landing for the US economy may be on the horizon, but housing remains a concern, especially for young Americans and those with lower incomes. Despite potential easing of interest rates, housing remains out of reach for many because of inflated prices and limited supply. Policy interventions such as tax credits and zoning reforms may hold more promise in addressing affordability than solely relying on monetary policy adjustments.

A new Health Affairs study reveals that Tennessee’s Medicaid enrollment cuts that took place two decades ago led to a significant rise in evictions. These findings highlight the risk of housing loss for those losing Medicaid coverage. With more than 16.4 million Americans disenrolled since April, the study underscores potential looming issues of housing insecurity and declining health outcomes.