A new study reveals that the effects of redlining, a discriminatory housing practice from the 1930s, continue to impact life expectancy in American communities today. Researchers from the University at Buffalo and Texas A&M University found that individuals who lived in redlined neighborhoods in 1940 faced a higher risk of premature death, with this disparity persisting into the present day.
The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, shows that for each drop in neighborhood rating by the Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC), residents experienced an 8% increased risk of death later in life. This translates to a life expectancy gap of 1.47 years for those in redlined areas compared to those in neighborhoods deemed the best credit risks.
Dr. Leonard E. Egede, co-author of the study, explains that redlining is a clear example of structural racism, as it legally fostered discrimination based on race. The practice not only restricted access to mortgages but also limited the flow of capital into minority neighborhoods, making it difficult for residents to build wealth and access resources.
The impact of these historical policies is still evident in cities like Buffalo, where 85% of African Americans live east of Main Street, an area associated with known disparities in life expectancy. Dr. Egede notes that as recently as 2014, a Buffalo bank was charged with redlining for excluding the East Side from its services.
These findings underscore the long-term consequences of discriminatory policies on public health and highlight the need for targeted interventions to address persistent health inequities in historically marginalized communities.
See “Living in a redlined neighborhood in 1940 was a risk factor for premature death, and the disparity persists today” (October 10, 2024)
