Social Well-Being Indicator Tracker

Our social well-being indicators are based on social determinants of health. These indicators are the economic and social conditions that shape the health of individuals and communities. Social determinants of health also determine the extent to which a person possesses the physical, social, and personal resources to identify and achieve personal aspirations, satisfy needs, and cope with the environment. Social determinants of health are about the quantity and quality of a variety of resources that society makes available to its members. Important considerations include both the quality and their distribution amongst the population.

EBuilt Environment Indicators

Built Environment. For almost everyone, housing represents the largest living cost.

Housing that is affordable, suitable, and adequate is a key determinate of an individual or family’s health and well-being. However, housing that is overcrowded, in need of repairs, or has health risks (for example, has mould or poor ventilation) can directly impact an individual’s physical and mental health. Additionally, paying for housing that is unaffordable (that is, costing more than 30% of a family’s income) reduces a family’s overall ability to address other determinates of health.

 The availability, affordability, and adequacy of housing are therefore crucial to the quality of life for both renters and homeowners.

Renters tend to have lower and more variable incomes and are therefore less able to afford substantial rent increases or the cost of purchasing a home. Vulnerable groups that face barriers, such as recent immigrants, refugees, and Indigenous peoples, often live in crowded or substandard housing.

Homeownership rates are an indicator of the overall level of financial independence in a community. Buying a home requires savings that many low- and moderate-income families do not have. Rising housing costs can make it more difficult to enter the housing market.

Incomes are intricately linked to housing affordability. If incomes do not keep up with the rising cost of housing, people’s ability to cover other living costs and to save for their future (education, retirement, etc.) declines.

This data has been collected from external sources and should not always be attributed to ESPC. We would be happy to provide you with a specific reference for the data that you have used. Please click on the text to the right to request sourcing information, report an error or omission, or provide your comments

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