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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

James Krieger, MD, MPH¹, Janice Rabkin, PhD, MPH¹, Denise Tung Sharify², Tom Phillips³, Tim Takaro, MD, MS, MPH⁴, Bonita Blake², and Rose Long². (1) Epidemiology, Planning and Evaluation, Seattle King County Public Health, 999 Third Avenue, Suite 1200, Seattle, WA 98104, 206-296-6817, james.krieger@metrokc.gov, (2) Neighborhood House-High Point, 6564 32nd Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98126, (3) Seattle Housing Authority, PO Box 19028, Seattle, WA 98109, (4) Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, #2200 West Mall Centre, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada

The Seattle Housing Authority, Neighborhood House, University of Washington and Public Health-Seattle & King County are incorporating healthy homes building specifications and healthy community principles into the redevelopment of a large public housing site. The redevelopment will be a mixed-income, mixed-tenure 1600 unit neighborhood. Phase I with 670 units will be complete in December 2006. The construction specifications for all homes exceed energy efficiency and ventilation codes. We have built 35 “Breathe Easy” units for people with asthma which include additional features to reduce asthma triggers: hard floors, enhanced ventilation, moisture-resistant building envelopes, no or low-emission finishing materials, and improved under-floor insulation. We are assessing the impact of the units on asthma morbidity with a longitudinal cohort study. The redevelopment incorporates urban design elements to promote the health of residents and the environment, including pedestrian-friendly street patterns, open spaces, walking trails, sustainable building methods, a neighborhood shopping district, and protection of the local watershed. Community action teams are working on increasing community walkability (e.g. pedestrian safety, maintaining paths) and making home visits to help families maintain healthy homes. We are collecting cross-sectional survey data from the entire community (first wave prior to redevelopment is completed and two subsequent surveys are planned one and three years after redevelopment) to assess impact on health status, respiratory health, social networks, social capital and physical activity. We will complement survey data with unobtrusive measures and qualitative information. Our presentation will describe the interventions, evaluation design, baseline data and participatory process for implementing the project.

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