A Housing and Health Equity Collaboration for Granville and Vance Counties, North Carolina

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> &nbsp; &nbsp;Abstract&nbsp;</span><br /><br />Julia Granitto, Jasmine Johnson, Keith Newby, and Beatrice Siaw: A Housing and Health Equity&nbsp;<br />Collaboration for Granville and Vance Counties, NC&nbsp;<br />(Under the direction of Dr. Heba Athar, 1st reader, and Dr. Karl Johnson, 2nd reader)&nbsp;<br />This thesis explores humane housing as a vital condition for health equity in Vance and&nbsp;<br />Granville Counties, North Carolina. Using the Vital Conditions for Well-Being framework, it&nbsp;<br />examines how housing affordability, safety, stability, and dignity influence health outcomes.&nbsp;<br />Adopting a systems-level approach beyond traditional Social Determinants of Health, the study&nbsp;<br />integrates demographic, housing, and eviction data with community mapping and policy review.&nbsp;<br />Findings reveal persistent inequities tied to historic redlining, economic disinvestment, and weak&nbsp;<br />governance linking health and housing. These structural barriers heighten eviction,&nbsp;<br />environmental exposure, and chronic disease among low-income and minority residents.&nbsp;<br />Grounded in public health leadership and policy frameworks, the thesis proposes an integrated&nbsp;<br />governance model that positions housing as essential health infrastructure. Recommendations&nbsp;<br />include forming a Humane Housing Steering Committee for oversight, strengthening code&nbsp;<br />enforcement, expanding community land trusts, and embedding housing metrics in public health&nbsp;<br />plans.&nbsp;<br />Keywords: humane housing, Vital Conditions, health equity, social determinants of health,&nbsp;<br />community engagement, policy integration,&nbsp;