WCPO ABC-9 visited Lower Price Hill yesterday to interview Community Council President, Cynthia Ford, and our Executive Director, Mary Delaney, about a recent report from the Cincinnati Health Department, which states that our community of Lower Price Hill has the lowest average life expectancy in all of Cincinnati. The data, captured between 2007-2015, shows that we live around 25 years less than someone living in Mt. Adams.
The results highlight the primary reason why we started Community Matters in 2014, because where you live matters.
The reasons for a lower life expectancy are complicated and intertwined in the overall challenges of systemic poverty. Addressing the issue involves a place-centered approach to improving all the social determinants of health including; access to quality affordable housing, strong educational opportunities, family income, social networks, safety, environmental hazards, access to food choices, and many others.
It’s complicated, but the response to this type of data often leads down a path that further exacerbates the issues. It is tempting to use this data to show all the problems in our community but skip over all the assets and strengths (aka the people). We’ve seen this type of response for generations in Lower Price Hill, and we know that it does not lead to change.
The results of the study should cause alarm, anger, and frustration. They should renew our call to action to build a thriving community. Most importantly, we must use this as an opportunity to put residents at the center of developing solutions and direct resources toward their leadership for change.
