Call to Action During National Minority Health Month 2025: Part 2
Last week, in observance of National Minority Health Month, commemorated in April in the U.S., we explored some of the many health disparities that persist today and negatively affect underrepresented populations. Today, we turn our attention to solutions.
To effectively reduce health disparities, local communities must take active leadership roles in shaping the conditions that influence health. This includes comprehensive efforts in improving jobs, housing, and transportation—three pillars of economic and social stability that influence health outcomes.
Jobs and Economic Stability
Employment is not only a source of income but also of health insurance and other benefits. Community-based organizations can partner with local governments and private sectors to develop workforce training programs, especially in healthcare, technology, and skilled trades. Special attention must be given to youth employment initiatives and reentry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals, both of which improve long-term community health metrics.
Housing as a Public Health Strategy
Access to safe, affordable, and stable housing directly impacts physical and mental health. Programs such as supportive housing for individuals with chronic illnesses, housing vouchers for low-income families, and investments in the elimination of environmental hazards such as lead, mold, and asbestos are essential. Cities such as Cleveland and Minneapolis have pioneered housing-first models that prioritize secure shelter as a prerequisite for health intervention.
An innovative approach gaining traction is the intergenerational housing model proposed by The Center’s Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) Innovation Hub. This model is designed to integrate low-income seniors, families, and young adults into shared living environments that provide wraparound social services. By fostering intergenerational relationships, this model reduces social isolation among elders, enhances child development through mentorship, and promotes mutual caregiving.
Intergenerational housing initiatives are often combined with on-site services such as job training, behavioral health counseling, access to food, and transportation assistance. These holistic environments address multiple determinants of health simultaneously and offer a sustainable alternative to fragmented service delivery. The SDoH Innovation Hub’s emphasis on collaboration with housing authorities, health systems, and educational institutions makes this model a replicable blueprint for communities nationwide.
Transportation and Accessibility
Reliable and affordable public transportation is crucial for accessing healthcare, employment, and social services. In many communities, the lack of public transit limits the effectiveness of healthcare systems. Local coalitions must advocate for expanded transit routes, mobile health units, and transportation subsidies. Integrating health service locations into transit planning can ensure more equitable service delivery.
Community Partnerships and Empowerment
Change is most sustainable when it is community-driven. Successful initiatives often include multisector partnerships between health systems, schools, faith organizations, housing authorities, and neighborhood associations. Community health workers play a pivotal role by acting as liaisons who provide culturally competent care and help residents navigate complex systems. When recruited from the populations they serve, community health workers significantly enhance trust and effectiveness.
Transforming Awareness into Action
National Minority Health Month serves as an annual reminder of the ongoing work required to improve population health in the U.S. While the initiative began over a century ago with a focus on education and hygiene, its mission has grown to encompass the broader social determinants of health that underlie persistent disparities. In an era market by political polarization, economic inequity, and public health crises, the importance of NMHM has never been more pronounced.
The evidence shows that health disparities continue to disproportionately affect Native Americans, Alaska Natives, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans. The Disparities are not incidental. Instead, they are the result of long-standing structural inequities. The response must also be structural by focusing on policy reform, community engagement, and a commitment to racial and economic justice.
Local communities play an essential role in this transformation. By investing in jobs, ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, and building inclusive transportation systems, community leaders can turn the tide on health inequities. Partnerships between health systems, educational institutions, nonprofits, and residents must be prioritized and supported.
From this moment forward, let National Minority Health Month be more than an observation. Let it be a movement — one that galvanizes action sustains commitment, and builds a healthier and a more just society for all.
