Healthy Housing Toolkit

Consider Your Audiences

Every city, town or village has different stakeholders who shape housing policies, such as legislators, landlords, families and others.1

And just like everyone else, these stakeholders make their decisions based on their individual concerns and values. It’s your task to speak to those concerns and values.

So, before you decide how you’ll craft and support your messages, think about how the subject of healthy and safe housing connects to your audiences’ concerns and values. Here are some examples.

Select an audience using the menu or scroll down to explore their potential concerns and values.

Municipal Decision Makers

Potential Concerns and Values

  • Children and education
  • Human potential and freedom to choose
  • Housing affordability, quality, access and safety
  • Property values, appearance and safety
  • Quality of life for residents
  • Government effectiveness and efficiency; cost-savings
  • Thriving, prospering communities
  • Support for small businesses, including landlords; workforce development
  • Civic pride

Parents, Families and Community Members

Potential Concerns and Values

  • Health and safety of children and seniors
  • General community health and safety
  • Educational success
  • Jobs and incomes
  • Civic pride

Landlords and Property Owners

Potential Concerns and Values

  • Protection of their investment and cost-savings
  • Ease of management and property upkeep
  • Positive image and perception
  • Ability to retain tenants


End Notes

1 Adapted from “Health Equity in Public Policy.” Voices for Healthy Kids. American Heart Association. https://voicesforhealthykids.org/guides/racial-equity-in-public-policy/guide-overview.