$1.8 million in grants will combat asthma
SHA, Neighborhood House and Public Health
join forces to promote a healthier environment at High Point
SEATTLE—October
27, 2003—Two federal grants totaling $1.8 million will
create environmentally healthy homes and decrease risk factors which
cause asthma among children in
West Seattle’s High Point mixed-income public housing community, Neighborhood House announced
today.
The
four-year grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) and the National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences (NIEHS) provide funding for resident education, community
involvement, environmental assessments and interventions by
Neighborhood House; construction of up to 35 “Better New
Homes for Asthma” by Seattle Housing Authority; and technical
assistance and project evaluation by Public Health – Seattle &
King County.
The
special focus of the project on reducing asthma among children
addresses the disproportionately higher incidence of the disease
among low-income families.
“This
joint effort brings together community-based education, new
construction and scientific evaluation to improve the health and
lives of the people who live in High Point,” said Mark Okazaki, executive director of Neighborhood House.
“It is one more example of the innovation and cooperation that is
transforming
High Point
into a unique community that responds to the social, cultural,
educational and environmental needs of its residents.”
Goals
of the grant-funded project include:
-
Building
35 new homes that address the needs of people with asthma,
allergies and other respiratory problems. Construction methods
and materials, as well as landscaping, will mitigate problems
caused by airborne allergens.
-
Creating
intergenerational teams of community members to reach out across
language and cultural barriers to educate residents about
improving environmental quality and to develop projects to make
High Point a healthier community.
-
Providing
home visits to assess indoor environmental quality, identify
hazards and empower families to reduce asthma triggers in their
homes.
-
Developing
“mutual housing agreements” through which residents agree to
engage in actions to benefit their health and the environment in
exchange for specific benefits provided by the community.
-
Including
environmental assessment and education in the context of routine
medical care received by community members.
-
Developing
long-term collaborative partnerships among residents, community
organizations, health professionals, environmental scientists,
public housing administrators, architects and planners.
-
Providing
residents moving into the new houses with a $2,000 furniture
allowance so their furniture does not contribute to asthma
symptoms.
The
grant from the NIEHS totals $972,000, while HUD is providing a grant
of $850,000 through its “Healthy Homes Initiative” program.
High Point, a Seattle Housing Authority community now in the process of
redevelopment, eventually will house 1,600 mixed-income families in
single-family and multi-family residences and include a library,
stores, community health clinic and parks.
Neighborhood
House, founded in 1906, helps diverse communities of people with
limited resources attain their goals for self-sufficiency and financial
independence. It provides residents of Seattle
and King
County public housing communities with educational, employment, social,
family and transportation services.
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