Intersections of Affordable Housing and Social Health

Join The Partnership on the first Wednesday of every month as we feature advocates, policy experts and leaders in other sectors across Connecticut who aim to promote intersectional solutions to help address the critical need for diverse, accessible, and affordable housing in our state.
This session focused on the intersection of Affordable Housing and Social Health. Hosted by For All Ages’ Founder & CEO Deb Bibbins and Co-Founder & COO Gary Sekorski, they set the stage by discussing why positive social connection is the foundation of our overall health and well-being. They explored the critical differences between loneliness and social isolation and their intersectionality, and highlighted the numerous mental, physical, and community health impacts of loneliness, including substance abuse, gun violence, dementia, suicide, and more.
Deb Bibbins explained the benefits of using a social health lens when creating and redesigning community housing, delving into how we design and build communities impacts social cohesion, neighborhood trust, and sense of community. She also explored strategies for addressing social health through the various components of the built environment, including why we should encourage shared community housing models.
The session concluded with Wellville’s CEO Rick Brush explaining how the process of thoughtfully including affordable housing concepts in community design fosters social connectivity and belonging. He also highlighted examples of projects happening in Connecticut and across the country where inclusivity and connection are key elements.