RLHPF Confrence Booklet 2020 Final - Flipbook - Page 1
Naomie Olivos | Loma Linda University
Creating Healthy Communities
Naomie Olivos
Health Policy Fellow
Creating Healthy Communities
Naomie Olivos
Health Policy Fellow
Background
Policymakers have been concerned about improving
living conditions in the US. Debates about how to
efficiently address the issue have emphasized the
importance of direct investment in communities to
improve conditions in troubled neighborhoods, while
others have expanded on mobility strategies,
facilitating the movement of the poor out of the worse
areas and into “neighborhoods of opportunity” in
other areas. However, research has shown the benefits
of a person’s community and how it can influence
one’s future. Furthermore, extensive research has
demonstrated that poverty and its resultant, such as
homelessness, lack of jobs, lack of a quality education,
are barriers that prevent building a thriving
community. Further, research reveals that individuals
from low-income families who grow up in
communities with adequate housing, community
facilities, and job opportunities have improved
economic outcomes.
Aim of Research
The aim of this project is to revitalize low-and
moderate-income communities in the City of San
Bernardino; Arrowhead Grove and Eastpointe, and
aid residents and small business owners to help
communities thrive.
Eastpointe & Arrowhead Grove
Build Healthy Places Network (BHPN) has been awarded
the PRO Neighborhoods planning grant from JPMorgan
Chase. This planning grant has allowed BHPN to work
on revitalizing low-and moderate-income communities
in the City of San Bernardino and aid residents and
small business owners to help communities thrive.
BHPN Mission
Our mission is to shift the way organizations work
across the health, community development, and
finance sectors to collectively advance equity,
reduce poverty, and improve health in
neighborhoods across the United States.
Principles for Building Healthy and
Prosperous Communities
1. Gather and assess existing reports, initiatives and
key players in the City of San Bernardino
2. To help create a data-driven process that thinks
about neighborhood stabilization & anticipates
neighborhood change
3. Gather current data and demographics on the City
of San Bernardino through various data sources
and online mapping, such as PolicyMap.
4. Create a pipeline of potential projects for PRO
Neighborhoods effort
Partnerships for Raising
Opportunity in Neighborhoods
City of San Bernardino
54 | Randall Lewis Health Policy Fellowship
Project Overview
Additionally, BHPN has partnered with Nonprofit
Finance Fund (NFF) and National Community
Renaissance (National CORE) to support locally driven
solutions and address key drivers of inequality and
increase investments in housing, community
facilities, and small businesses.
Limitations
Lack of funding, rising land costs, zoning
laws, neighborhood resistance, and legal
issues which will hinder transitioning vacant
land to permanent housing.
Findings/Outcomes
Increasing
investments
in
housing,
community facilities, and small businesses,
will serve as key components to address
persistent
community
development
challenges, as an effective strategy to improve
the health of San Bernardino residents in
Eastpointe and Arrowhead Grove by
providing them with housing stability and a
thriving community.
Randall Lewis Health Policy Fellowship | 55