Affordable Housing in Regions with Naturally Occurring Asbestos

Several cities lack affordable housing. Creating new ones or annexing additional lands for development that are beyond a city's boundaries could help address this issue in some instances. Undertaking such a plan has immediate benefits for people who do not have houses due to financial hardships. However, in certain regions, residents could be exposed to naturally occurring asbestos that have remained undisturbed in the natural environment. One problem is that illnesses that result from such exposures do not manifest until several decades later. Although this condition could be a hindrance to securing affordable housing in areas with limited terrain, employing an anticipatory environmental justice framework can help establish protocols that could significantly reduce the risks associated with these hazardous materials. This study investigates such scenarios.