Early-Life Health Impacts of Affordable Housing in Higher-Income Areas: Evidence from Massachusetts Chapter 40B
November 16, 2023 by The report examines the health impacts of Massachusetts Chapter 40B, a housing policy aimed at increasing affordable housing in higher-income areas. Using a difference-in-differences approach, the study finds that moving to 40B housing improves birth outcomes and some health metrics for renters, but not for owners. The most significant benefits are observed among Black renters, particularly those moving from high-poverty, high-incarceration neighborhoods. The study suggests that desegregation-focused housing policies like 40B can help reduce racial and economic health disparities. It also highlights that these health improvements are linked to better neighborhood conditions, such as lower poverty and pollution levels. The findings contribute to the broader literature on the health effects of social policies and neighborhood conditions.