Historic Redlining Practices and Contemporary Determinants of Health in the Detroit Metropolitan Area.

This article examines the association between historical redlining—racially discriminatory housing policies implemented by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC)—and contemporary neighborhood determinants of health in the Detroit Metropolitan Area (DMA). Using HOLC color-coded grades (green = "best," blue = "desirable," yellow = "declining," red = "hazardous") and a determinants of health index (DOHI) encompassing economic, social, governance, and physical environment indicators, the study finds that formerly redlined neighborhoods exhibit significantly poorer conditions across these domains compared to nonredlined areas. The findings suggest that historical redlining has contributed to persistent structural inequities affecting health opportunities, with greenlined neighborhoods showing accumulated advantages. The study highlights the importance of addressing these historical impacts through targeted neighborhood reinvestment and policies that protect residents from displacement to promote health equity.