Canal Alliance

In the San Francisco Bay Area, those who live in poorer communities have, on average, 10 years lower life expectancy than those in communities without poverty, according to Bob Prentice of Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII).   The Canal neighborhood is one of Marin’s most impoverished communities; BARHII maps show that life expectancy here is lower than elsewhere in the county.

Canal residents also face health threats in the built environment.  Access to grocery stores is still limited – a critical factor for combating diabetes, obesity, hunger, cancer, heart disease, and stroke.  Our streets are often congested, and the density of housing means we have limited access to open space and parks – this increases residents’ risk of injuries, stress, depression, and attention deficit disorder.  Our unaffordable or inadequate housing increases risk of mental illness, communicable disease, asthma, lead poisoning, and psychosocial illness.

Furthermore, we face environmental issues:  the front door of Canal Alliance is just a mile from Marin Sanitary Service’s landfill and hazardous waste collection; on [summer] days, the breeze drifts from there directly into the community.  And our neighborhood has a high concentration of auto repair shops and other businesses which deposit environmentally concerning chemicals, paints, and solvents into the air, streets, soil, and groundwater.

Because there are so many factors affecting the health and wellbeing of our community, Canal Alliance’s programming must take a whole-community approach to health.  To us, health is not just about medical care – although that is important.  Health is also about nutrition, economic stability, freedom from violence, social connection, and education.  Along with our partners Marin Community Clinic, the San Rafael School District, Marin Food Bank, Legal Aid of Marin, and others, we are working hard to create an environment where all residents can live longer, healthier lives.