Neighbourhoods and "place" are now widely recognized as important factors in shaping health outcomes.

Approximately 80% of Canadians now live in urban centres , and within and between these urban centres, there are wide health disparities. Recent research in Canada and internationally indicates that:

• health differences between affluent and poor neighbourhoods are significant
• poor housing, environment, lack of access to heath and social; services, adequate food, transportation and recreational facilities have an adverse effect on health
• public policy that secures affordable housing and other public infrastructures can improve quality of life

The Wellesley Institute has been researching the dynamics of urban health and the importance of social inequality and neighborhoods. As part of our major Blueprint to End Homelessness initiative, we analyzed the development of new public housing ward by ward in Toronto.

We are a partner in Toronto Health Profiles , a collaboration involving several partner organizations that facilitates access to information for health planning with the overall goal of producing action to reduce health inequalities.

This page provides links to a number of our resources on health disparities and neighbourhoods, as well as those produced by other organizations.

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