Where we live and the opportunities available to us have a big impact on our health and wellbeing. Laws and policies can create health disparities by providing some individuals and groups with more opportunities and resources for good health than others. Low income communities, communities of color, and other marginalized groups are disproportionately impacted by discriminatory policies and practices which create barriers to good health (e.g. housing segregation, school funding based on property taxes, discriminatory bank lending practices, etc.). Removing these barriers and achieving health equity requires the use of policies that promote equitable health outcomes to create long-term, positive change.
