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.