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Root Causes Of Gentrification

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Gentrification can be defined as the shift from independent businesses to high end franchises, resulting in increase in property value, displacing long term community members and businesses, and changing the social class of the neighborhood. It is a form of structural violence as it denies some groups basic needs such as affordable housing and food security. Root causes of gentrification are family structure, job growth, lack of housing, traffic congestion, public sector policies, and racism.1 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists gentrification as a public health issue because where one lives plays a role in their health.1 It can affect one’ physical and mental health and whether the effects are entirely positive or negative is debatable. Some negative effects of gentrification include displacement, loss of affordable housing, homelessness, and loss of social diversity. Some positive effects include increase of property value, new businesses, and decrease in crime rates.
There are existing organizations such as the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and World Food Program USA which fight to prevent homelessness and food insecurity, consequences of gentrification. However, there is still room for improvement. Also, there remains a gap in research regarding gentrification and whether it improves or deteriorates health. It is important to note that there seems to be a lack of current research about gentrification. Moreover, much of the research conducted about gentrification did not take place in the United States.
The purpose of this project was to evaluate how the shift in businesses caused by gentrification affect the standard of living. In my paper, I will delve deeper into how gentrification affects displacement and homelessness, as well as, food insecurity and what impact this has on health. My team was tasked with observing signs of gentrification in the neighborhoods we mapped and collecting data about the existing businesses. I was responsible for comparing the data we collected with previous data regarding businesses in the same neighborhood.
The agency I worked with was MAPSCorps through Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center. MAPSCorps’

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