Substandard Housing as a Driver of Mental Health Disparities in Vance and Granville Counties

This proposal addresses the need for safe, stable, and affordable housing in Granville and Vance counties. In Granville and Vance counties, housing instability contributes to negative mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Renters are disproportionately impacted by housing instability in comparison to homeowners. Three policy recommendations to improve housing conditions in the county are expanding access and funding to a first-time home buyer program, creating two pilot programs to assist renters at risk for eviction, and providing emergency housing to families at risk for displacement. In addition, a recommendation is made for a steering committee to be created and led by various community partners in Granville and Vance County to measure levels of success for these policy interventions.    Keywords: mental health, housing insecurity, affordable housing, first-time homeowners, and community engagement