Background: Boston’s poorest, minority neighborhoods contain some of the oldest housing stock in the United States. In those same neighborhoods, hospitalization rates are 19 asthma and 7.7 injury hospitalizations per 1000 children, double the rates around the city. In 1998, 1556, or 6.1%, of Boston children had a blood lead greater than 10ug/dl. In addition, the high cost of renting or owning in Boston has labeled housing and health a “crisis.”
Methods: We will recount the efforts to address this crisis across three major areas. First, grassroots efforts among Boston’s environmental, housing and health access community groups worked to identify resources and services for their children affected by this crisis. Second, academic/professional service providers became involved. A report from Boston, “Not Safe at Home,” documented how housing can affect child health nationally. With this information, other professionals advocated with families for better systems to evaluate, treat and prevent these problems. Third, the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development, Inspectional Services Department and Public Health Commission began many programs to address the needs of those affected by the crisis. Driven by grassroots efforts, these three areas worked collaboratively and synergistically for new programs.
Results: Two collaborations begun at the Boston Public Health Commission will be described: the Healthy Homes Project, funded by the CDC and Federal Home Loan Bank, and the Boston Healthy Homes Partnership, funded by HUD.
Conclusion: Housing and health are inextricably linked. Only through building broad-based coalitions can we design and implement successful housing and health programs
Learning Objectives: 1. List key components in successful coalition building from this example in Boston. 2. Articulate how housing can affect child health
Keywords: Housing, Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Boston Public Health Commission,
Health Care For All
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.