The Public Health Consequences of Public Housing Failures

US public housing residences are in disrepair due to underfunding, with more than 10,000 units lost annually. The $115 billion required to restore these homes is often dismissed by lawmakers, notably in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. This neglect has led to dire living conditions for over a million individuals who depend on public housing, contributing to increased rates of chronic diseases and injuries. A cluster of Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Tina Smith, are pushing Congress to reconsider public housing.