An article from KFF News, an independent, non-profit source of in-depth reporting on complex health issues and their impact on people’s lives, reveals that every year more than 10,000 taxpayer-supported public housing units are lost to disrepair. Around $115 billion is needed to keep them in “decent, safe, and sanitary condition”, yet this funding need is routinely ignored by federal lawmakers. One-time funds were cut from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The results have been disastrous for the more than one million people—mostly low-income, Black and Hispanic tenants—who rely on public housing. Housing affordability and access are a public health imperative. Research shows that living in derelict housing contributes to higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, asthma, violence, and other life-threatening risks. Exposure to mold and pest allergens contributes to childhood asthma, and deteriorating housing conditions can send people to the ER with falls and other injuries. Toxic pollutants contribute to cardiovascular problems. Starting with the Nixon administration, lawmakers slowed investment in new public housing and during the Clinton administration a moratorium passed that effectively prohibits the construction of additional public housing units. As Christians and Catholics, we should be a voice for more humane housing options for those in need through contacting our local, state, and federal officials to urge greater funding as a budget priority.