Swope Health will host “Brick by Brick: What it will take to solve Kansas City’s affordable housing crisis,” a moderated panel discussion, on Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Kansas City Public Library-Plaza Branch, Truman Forum Auditorium (4801 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.). The event, free and open to all, will begin with a reception at 5 p.m. The conversation begins at 6 p.m.

Jeron Ravin, JD, President and CEO of Swope Health, will guide the conversation, featuring panelists Steven Anthony, Vice President of Business Development, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City; Terrell Jolly, Managing Partner and Senior Agent, Integrity Capital Management; Pat Jordan, President, Pat Jordan and Associates; and Blaine Procter, Director, Housing and Community Development, City of Kansas City, Missouri.

Housing is one of the most widely researched social determinants of health. According to a recent report by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, the U.S. has a shortage of 7.3 million rental homes that are affordable and available to those with extremely low incomes—those at or below the federal poverty guideline, or at 30 percent of the area median income. In Kansas City, only 36 of 100 units are available to those who are at or below the extremely low-income threshold. Affordable housing interventions have been found to improve health outcomes and decrease health care costs. The panel discussion will explore the affordable housing trends that are pervasive in our country and unique to Kansas City. Potential interventions will also be discussed.

This is the second in Swope Health’s 2024 Social Drivers Series, which is sponsored by REACH Healthcare Foundation,