“That answer may be different for just about everyone. A “livable” community could be access to health care and education, or a community that embraces differences and makes space for all. It could be access to affordable housing, or transportation that is safe for all users. It could mean clean drinking water and air, or access to parks and open spaces. No matter how we look at it, everyone has the right to live in a community where people can thrive, grow, and live healthy lives.
In public health work, we refer to these conditions as the Social Determinants of Health. According to Healthy People 2023, “the Social Determinants of Health are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.” These conditions play a significant role, almost 50%, in an individual’s health.”
Read full article on the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
