Sustainable housing as a social determinant of health and wellbeing

Sustainable housing is increasingly recognized as a crucial social determinant of health, intersecting environmental sustainability with affordability, safety, and inclusivity to shape population health and equity. This paper reviews the existing literature and presents that integrating sustainable housing into public health frameworks can mitigate health risks, reduce inequities, and promote resilient urban futures. This review paper reframes sustainable housing through a holistic lens, emphasizing its potential to improve health through inclusive design, energy efficiency, green infrastructure, and affordability. Theoretically grounded in the Social Determinants of Health framework, Ecological Systems Theory, Environmental Health Theory, and Life Course Perspective, sustainable housing is shown to influence health outcomes across multiple levels and life stages. Empirical studies further validate these connections, demonstrating improved physical and mental health, particularly among vulnerable populations, when sustainable housing features are implemented. While these benefits span multiple health domains, persistent implementation challenges related to equity, financing, and policy coherence can limit their reach. Equity-centered approaches and cross-sector collaboration are essential to ensure the health benefits of sustainable housing are distributed fairly. Climate-resilient design strategies further underscore the role of housing in protecting communities against growing environmental threats. Furthermore, research priorities are required to strengthen the evidence base, including studies utilizing longitudinal study designs and participatory approaches. The findings of this review call for policy innovations that embed sustainable housing within broader public health and urban development agendas.