Mitigating Home Environmental Asthma Triggers in Subsidized Housing: Experiences of Caregivers and Healthcare Workers

TL;DR

This study explores how caregivers and health workers in Washington, DC, manage asthma triggers in subsidized housing and identifies solutions to improve health outcomes for low-income children.

Contribution

The study introduces community-based insights and actionable policy recommendations to address asthma triggers in subsidized housing.

Findings

Families in subsidized housing face multiple environmental asthma triggers like pests, mold, and poor ventilation.

Residents often feel powerless due to unresponsive landlords and inadequate housing services.

Participants suggested stronger housing enforcement and funding for home-based interventions to reduce asthma disparities.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Pediatric asthma remains a pressing public health issue, especially among low-income, minority children living in subsidized housing. Methods: This study employed a community-based participatory research approach to explore barriers and potential solutions for improving asthma management in this vulnerable population. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 caregivers of children with asthma and 8 community health workers in Washington, DC—a city marked by high childhood asthma rates and concentrated subsidized housing. Results: Thematic analysis identified six core findings: (1) families frequently encountered multiple home environmental asthma triggers, including pests, mold, secondhand smoke, leaks, poor ventilation, and aging infrastructure; (2) healthy housing services were under implemented, often due to unresponsive landlords, inadequate inspections, and poor maintenance; (3) existing services such as pest control, mold remediation, and smoke-free policies were ineffectively implemented; (4) challenges to service delivery included difficulties faced by landlords and structural barriers tied to geography, race, and socioeconomic status; (5) substandard housing conditions contributed to residents’ feelings of powerlessness, frustration, and distrust, with some taking legal action to address persistent hazards; and (6) participants recommended stronger housing code enforcement, sustained funding for home-based environmental interventions, housing-health liaisons, strengthened landlord accountability, support for landlords to facilitate repairs, centering families’ voices, and advocacy. Conclusions: This study underscores the persistent challenges caregivers face in managing asthma triggers in subsidized housing. The findings highlight the critical need for improved housing conditions, greater landlord and housing authority accountability, and policy reforms to ensure consistent, equitable, and sustainable healthy housing services that reduce pediatric asthma disparities.

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