Creating Healthy Environments for Residents in Public Housing

University of California at Berkeley: Center for Family and Community Health

Topics:
Community Health | Nutrition & Physical Activity for Adults

Residents of public housing in low-income urban areas may be exposed to health risks for asthma, lead poisoning, alcohol and substance abuse, injury (from traffic and crime), and chronic diseases related to smoking, limited opportunities for physical activity, and minimal access to healthy food. Health Impact Assessments (HIAs), such as assessments of neighborhood grocery stores, air quality, violence, or lead levels, may provide useful information to help urban planners build environments that protect and improve a community's health, and prevent or reduce potential health hazards. Residents have a stake in public housing, but they may not be included in urban planning.

In this project, researchers are determining the effectiveness of training and involving community members in planning a healthy inner-city housing environment and whether recommendations from a public housing group contribute to creating a healthy environment. The project team is offering a free 3-day HIA and health risk training to public housing groups, comprising public housing tenants, agencies, and advocates; environmental and social justice groups; agencies that advocate for people with disabilities, children's health, and public safety; urban planning commissions; and transportation agencies. Researchers will select one public housing group for a pilot study in which the project team will help participants 1) identify their neighborhood's health conditions and risks, 2) conduct environmental HIAs, 3) identify risks posed by the housing environment, as determined by analysis of the HIAs, and 4) generate recommendations for land use and environmental changes. Researchers plan to use the University of California at Berkeley Health Impact Group Web site to post the project's results, HIA tools, and other information for communities and city planners.

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