The Psychological Impact of Gentrification
- On the Money Magazine
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Rubi Rodriguez, Prosser Career Academy, Sophomore, Spring 2025
For those of us with brown skin, rising from the pit of darkness into a world of blue eyes, where darkness is more than a color; it is a weight, a whisper saying, “stay where you belong”. Gentrification deepens the burden, scattering communities, raising care costs, and fueling stress. As belonging fades, access to mental health care slips further away for those who need it most.
Studies have shown that “The fraction of respondents with SPD (sensory processing disorder) was greater among respondents living in low-income neighborhoods (9 percent) compared to residents of middle-to-high income neighborhoods (6 percent)” (Tran et al., 2020). Gentrification pushes low-income residents into areas with higher psychological distress, showing the mental health impact of economic and social displacement. As Heidi Dolcimasculo, a teacher at Prosser Career Academy, shares, “People not only lose their home, but lose their cultural identity, having their neighborhoods ripped apart.” The pressure of rising housing costs and the loss of familiar community structures contribute to a chronic state of stress. These mental health burdens are not only by-products of gentrification but also barriers to recovery.
This instability is compounded by the erosion of affordable housing options that have long supported Chicago’s diverse communities.“Chicago lost more than 12,000 homes in two- to four-unit buildings between 2013 and 2022, according to city data… and make up a significant chunk of the city’s unsubsidized affordable housing, officials said” (Cherone 2024). With the disappearance of affordable housing, this reduces access for low-income residents. Chantal Rodriguez, a student at Northwestern University shares, “I used to live in the Northside of Chicago, but as prices went up, my family had to move west. Then I realized the differences in opportunities and education was very clear.” Families like hers have been pushed into areas with poor schools, more crime, and limited care. Gentrification may seem neutral, but it often excludes marginalized groups from economic progress.
Gentrification not only fractures the emotional fabric of communities but also places a severe financial strain on residents in the form of rising property taxes and cost-of-living increases, forcing many to make impossible choices between basic needs and personal well-being. Leaving it to become clear that gentrification is not just a matter of housing, it's a public health issue that demands urgent attention.
Sources:
Interviewees
Chantal Rodriguez, Undergraduate Freshman at Northwestern University, chantalrodriguez3232@gmail.com
Heidi Dolcimasculo, IB Psychology teacher at Prosser Career Academy, hegeorgakalis@cps.edu
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