Segregation, Inequality Reflected in Ohio’s Poor County Health Rankings

High racial segregation, along with high income inequality and poverty, are driving poor health outcomes in Cuyahoga County and in other areas of Ohio. Segregation of neighborhoods, institutionalized in federal housing and banking policies in the 1920’s—which barred blacks and other minorities from securing home loans—has created large areas of deteriorating housing and environmental conditions. These conditions have direct and indirect effects on health, and need to change, public health experts say. Read more about the rankings and how HIP-Cuyahoga is working to change the conversation about how people become healthy on Cleveland.com.