I have a question about hospitals...?

Question

...I live in south Alabama. Everywhere in the south (Maybe its the same up north, I dont know) wherever theres a hospital, its always surrounded by a rundown, primarily african american neighborhood. (no racism intended) Why is this? I've always wondered ever since I was a young boy, why whenever we went to a hospital we always had to drive through a projects like area, or just really old, worn out houses with black children playing in the street while black men chill outside with friends. Is it because theres a hospital there, or is the hospital put there because of the area? Please answer maturely.

Answer 1

Must be just where you live. Here in California hospitals are in many different kinds of neighborhoods.

Answer 2

In my area hospitals may be located in pretty residential areas, in cities, set in and away from the road on hills, whatever...

With regard to run-down-houses in the area, if the hospital is in a city setting there's a good chance it just happens that neighborhoods immediately around hospitals and their parking lots, etc. may get lower rents (or something like that).

Although the particular neighborhoods you have in mind may, in fact, have Black children playing outside, run-down neighborhoods come in all colors. I don't see why you felt the need to bring up anyone's race when asking your question.

Since most hospital buildings have been up long before any neighborhood gets run down, I don't believe anyone builds a hospital to have it there for the people in the neighborhood (although they may open clinics for that reason, but they aren't hospitals). I also don't believe that Black families say, "Hey - let's go live near a hospital because we're Black." :)

One reality is that there are people of all races with low incomes. For whatever reason, some low-income neighborhoods are predominantly one race or another; although some are quite mixed. If there are neighborhoods around hospitals where the rent or housing prices are lower that's where any low-income family may live. Sometimes low income means not having the money to buy mums for porch, to fix the screens, or paint the house - so, voila.

Answer 3

It was probably built in a "white area" before the economy took such a crap. Suburbs of the past are today's slums, whereas developments of the present are tomorrow's slums. And yes, your question does sound bigoted.

Answer 4

Dude, must be where you live or something. I have lived in N.C , Ohio, S.C, Ill. Maine, & now FL I have not noticed that as a trend to hospital locations.