Poverty's affect on health to be examined at public lecture

March 9, 2009 – Jim Dunn, an adjunct faculty with the McMaster Health Forum who researches the effects of poverty on health, is the keynote speaker at the Social Science in the City Anti-poverty Lecture series on March 10.

Dunn will explore the issues of why more money is associated with better health in his lecture entitled Housing, Neighbourhoods and Health: Poverty Traps or Trampolines?, at 7 p.m. at The Hamilton Spectator Auditorium.
Dunn, who is also a scientist with the Centre for Research on Inner City Health in Toronto, is among the McMaster social scientists who are actively researching how poverty is taking its toll on the health of Canadians.

It is well known that poverty is not good for health, but research evidence shows clearly that the effects of poverty on health affect nearly everyone in society: at every point on the social ladder, the greater your income the better your health.

Some research suggests better housing and neighbourhoods can explain these inequalities. Dunn's lecture will explore how improvements in housing and neighbourhoods may improve health outcomes, even without changing people's income levels.

He will share his own research and describe what is known about housing and neighbourhoods and how they can provide a pathway out of poverty and to better health.

The lecture is open to the public, and there is no admission fee, but those interested in attending are asked to register by calling 905-525-9140, ext. 24934.