Environmental Initiatives to Improve Well-being for Impoverished Americans
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v12i4.5619Keywords:
Poverty, Well-being, Environmental Initiatives, Non-profit, Community, Green SpacesAbstract
Impoverished communities in America continue to be left behind despite the nation's industrialization and improving quality of life. In 2021, the United States Census Bureau reported that 11.6% of Americans still lived in poverty (Creamer et al., 2022). Living at an economic disadvantage, individuals in poverty often cannot afford basic necessities and meet satisfactory living standards. Among these challenges is environmental inequality in which impoverished Americans can lack access to vegetated areas or well-maintained environments (Sicotte, 2013 & Erickson, 2016). The ramifications of this challenge contribute to heightened susceptibility to both mental and physical health complications, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, and heat-related fatalities (Ridley 2020 & EPA, n.d.). To combat the health crisis, this review aims to explore how environmental initiatives – such as green spaces, outdoor community events, and environmental justice – are able to improve the well-being of impoverished communities. I analyze current literature and find that increased interactions with natural environments boost well-being. Additionally, I evaluate active environmental initiatives in America and relate their potential to serving low-income communities. From analysis, it is evident that fostering a deeper connection with the natural environment holds promise for enhancing the holistic wellness of impoverished communities. Future endeavors in public and non-profit sectors should focus on achieving the successful incorporation of environmental initiatives in low-income neighborhoods.
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