Housing and Health: How Opportunity Areas Promote Wellness

Summer is upon us! This July, we are encouraging our stakeholders to stay active, mentally and physically. It’s well known that regular exercise has a positive impact on health. But what may be less obvious is the role of housing, particularly housing in well-resourced communities, in facilitating both exercise and mental health. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the ways housing in Opportunity Areas contributes to health outcomes, as well as highlight some ways to get active, both mentally and physically in our region.

Opportunity Areas, Exercise, and Health

Where you live plays an important role in facilitating physical and mental health. Housing is one of the social determinants of health, which are factors outside the biological network that affect health outcomes. In fact, housing conditions and socioeconomic factors like distance from grocery stores and stress from the environment affect health and can contribute to many chronic illnesses.

As part of addressing these social determinants, BRHP facilitates expanded housing choice among our participants, helping them access Opportunity Areas: communities with strong job prospects, schools, and amenities, through our Housing Mobility Program. Living in an opportunity area presents increased access to resources that can make it significantly easier to exercise and improve quality of life. Many have parks, trails, or natural areas suitable for hiking and enjoying Maryland’s beautiful environment, or community recreation centers and programs where families and children alike can try new activities and meet new friends. A few of these amenities are highlighted below:

Anne Arundel County

Anne Arundel County is known for its proximity to the water and natural beauty. Explore miles of trails like the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail and spot birds or fish at the Patuxent Research Refuge (pictured)! On a warm day, beat the heat by checking out the North Arundel Aquatic Center or Truxton Park.

- Park Locator: https://www.aacounty.org/recreation-parks

Image: A pond at the Patuxent Research Refuge

Baltimore City

Enjoy nature in the city at Druid Hill Park or the Cylburn Arboretum, or experience the cool breezes of the Patapsco at Federal Hill Park and Canton Waterfront Park. Alternatively, explore the network of recreation centers Baltimore has to offer or enjoy some free art and activities at the Walters Art Museum.

- Baltimore Recreation Centers https://bcrp.baltimorecity.gov/recreationcenters

Image: A garden of the Cylburn Arboretum

Baltimore County

Baltimore has over 350 parks spread across the County, including natural areas like the beautiful Loch Raven Reservoir (pictured). On hot days, consider an inside activity at a Baltimore Recreation Activity Center.

Park Locator: https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/recreation/parkfinder
Recreation Centers: https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/recreation/programs/rac

Image: The shores of Loch Raven Reservoir

Carroll County

With 4974 acres of parkland in 30 different parks, Carroll County offers a variety of locations for a hike, playground time, or a family picnic like at Krimgold Park (pictured). On hot days, enjoy educational activities at the Bear Branch Nature Center or check out a free exhibit at the Carroll County Arts Center.

Park Locator: https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/directory/recreation-parks/places-to-go/parks/

Image: The pond at Krimgold Park.

Harford County

Harford County: Harford County has a large network of recreation and nature centers, and nearly 90 parks that span the County. Check out nature activities at the Anita C. Leight Center or the boardwalk at Harford Glen Park (pictured), or plan a family picnic and fun at one of the many green spaces the County has to offer!

Park Locator: https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/225/Parks-Recreation

Image: The boardwalk at Harford Glen Park.

Howard County

Howard County features over 50 developed parks, like beautiful Centennial Park (pictured), with miles of trails, various amenities, and play areas that are ready for you and your family to explore.

Park Locator: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/parks-playgrounds-trails

Image: A trail in Howard County’s Centennial Park

Other ways to get active could include checking out a running club, many of which offer free meetups and training. Clubs in Baltimore City or County include A Tribe Called Run, BMore Running, and many other local group runs! Alternatively, find one in Anne Arundel County, Harford County, or a community in Carroll County or Howard County.

With all the activities and resources out there, it might be hard to decide what to do! BRHP staff share some ideas on how they stay active:

“I love going out for long rides on my road bike – 25 to 50 mile rides – particularly along trails such as the Baltimore & Annapolis or Northern Central Railroad trail in Maryland, or Old Dominion in Virginia.” – Adria

“I’m a big fan of enjoying our area lakes and Chesapeake Bay beaches to beat the heat. Gunpowder Falls State Park has some wonderful opportunities to enjoy water recreations or the trails.” – Emily

“I love stretching in the park or going for walks around my neighborhood. Seeing everyone’s stoop gardens, watching the fireflies and getting outside helps me feel grounded amidst the busyness of life.” – Jackie

Beyond the physical, opportunity areas have resources to help train your brain. As the summer days grow long, consider visiting your local library to pick up a new novel or learn a new skill. All libraries have youth and child programs to encourage reading and computer-based courses for all ages. Some, like the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore, even offer certificates in coding, foreign languages, and other areas. Many libraries, like the East Columbia and Savage libraries in Howard County, also have additional resources like STEM learners’ kits or musical instruments. Community organizations and nature centers, like Bear Branch Nature Center in Carroll County or the Anita C. Leight Center in Harford County, have playgrounds and nature areas as well as activities like crafting, birdwatching, or nature walks that blend physical and mental exercise with family fun and relaxation.

Find Your Local Library!

Anne Arundel County Public Libraries: https://www.aacpl.net/
Baltimore City/Enoch Pratt Library System – https://www.prattlibrary.org/
Baltimore County Library system: https://www.bcpl.info/
Carroll County Public Library system: https://library.carr.org/
Harford County Public Library System: https://www.hcplonline.org/
Howard County Public Library System: https://hclibrary.org/

*Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Library System*

Remarkably, mental health can also have physical manifestations, as seen in a study of asthma attacks in families from opportunity and non-opportunity areas BRHP helped conduct with researchers at Johns Hopkins University that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Living in an opportunity area and experiencing lower neighborhood stress led to a 54% reduced rate of asthma attacks in children who moved from non-opportunity to opportunity areas according to the study.

As parents, caretakers, and children feel more at ease in opportunity areas, they are better able to focus on reaching their full potential, physically and mentally. BRHP’s Housing Mobility Program looks to extend these benefits to families with low incomes who have historically been excluded from housing in opportunity areas and give them a fair chance to transition to these vibrant communities, where they can truly thrive.

Written by — Steven Chen, Communication and Special Projects Intern