Executive Summary

Low wages, poverty, and unemployment are syndemic predictors of poor health and life outcomes, particularly for SSHC’s prioritized Black Roseland and Washington Heights residents. Of the 38,816 Roseland’s residents, 95.3% are Black, and 1.3% are Hispanic/Latino, and from 2016 – 2020 at least 30% earn less than $25,000 a year and over 54% earn less than $50,000 annually. Of the 25,065 Washington Heights residents, 95.5% are Black, and 1.5% are Hispanic/Latino, and from 2016 – 2020 at least 27.1% earn less than $25,000 a year, and over 46.9% earn less than $50,000 annually. Unemployment in this area (19% for Roseland and 14.2% for Washington Heights) is more than quadruple the national average, with an additional 45.1% and 44.5%, respectively, not serving as part of the workforce at all during the same 2016-2020 period. For 36 years, as a neighborhood based whole person center, SSHC has sought to relieve some of the area Black community's syndemic issues outlined by these statistics by partnering with the most vulnerable residents of these communities to assist it in reducing and eliminating the public health issues among us and support those who want to in achieving self-sufficiency. In addition to hosting community development and mobilization events, SSHC has done this through sexual health screenings and linkage to care, anti-violence and restorative justice programs, and after school and workforce development services. Accordingly, SSHC has provided education enhancement opportunities for personal development, increased healthcare access, and delivered psychosocial and case management services to support individuals and families.

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