Low-income Housing Complex Research Articles

The Effects of a Community-Based, Multicomponent, Depression Prevention Intervention in Mothers At-Risk.

The purpose of this study was to develop a 12-week multicomponent, depression prevention pilot intervention and evaluate its feasibility and preliminary effects on improving levels and correlates of depressive symptoms, including anger, self-esteem perceived stress, social support, and racism. A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods design and a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was employed. University faculty, students and community residents collaborated at a low-income housing complex in a low-resourced, urban community. Fifteen low-income, ethnic minority mothers ages 23-46 years completed the intervention and evaluation surveys. Eight mothers participated in a focus group. The intervention included social group-dance, health education, and socialization. t-Tests, sign-tests, and thematic analysis was employed. Mothers identified barriers and facilitators of program engagement. Depressive symptoms were significantly reduced (t(14) = 2.41, p = .030). Self-esteem (t(14) = 2.28, p = .039) and social support levels (M = 4.5, p = .035) were significantly increased. This multicomponent intervention is feasible. Preliminary efficacy evidence was mixed.

Improving Social Quality in Housing Complexes for Older Adults: Professional Support as a Necessary Condition

Social quality in housing complexes for older adults depends largely on the opportunities to participate in social activities and the social connections between residents in the complex. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to explore the possibilities of residents in low-income housing complexes to improve the social quality in their complexes, and to get insight into their need for professional support. Results showed that the self-organizing capacity of the residents is limited due to a lack of knowledge and organizational skills, and health problems. Improving social quality requires permanent attention from facilitating professionals who guide the process and ensure continuity.

Policing the Poor in Detroit

On the afternoon of November 15, 2013, 150 police officers raided the Colony Arms, a low-income housing complex on Detroit's East Side. One resident described the scene: "I saw…cop cars with the sirens…some kind of tank blocking the back alley, at least two helicopters doing I don't know what…. The officers had real, real long rifles. It was like the army or something…like an invasion…." In all, thirty arrests were made, twenty-one related to parking violations. These arrests yielded a total of zero convictions. The raid occurred on a Friday; all those arrested were released from jail by Monday. The raid was declared a resounding success by the Detroit Police Department (DPD) and all of the city's major media outlets. The raid on the Colony Arms inaugurated Operation Restore Order, a series of seventeen paramilitary police operations carried out between 2013 and 2015. Over the course of the operation, police made over a thousand arrests; as in the Colony Arms raid, however, these yielded little in the way of prosecutions.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.

Home Visits: Advancing Pediatric Training by Preserving Past Traditions.

* Abbreviations: ACGME — : Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education CSHCN — : children with special health care needs HCH — : home-centered health After a short ride from resident clinic, we drove into 1 of the city’s low-income housing complexes. Walking up to the third floor of a dilapidated building and noticing the flimsy railing, we realized our anticipatory guidance on child proofing the home must also include outdoor areas. In fact, it was the motivation to see just how appropriate our recommendations were for families living in urban poverty that led us to join a community outreach worker on a routine home visit. When we arrived at apartment 3A, Janelle and her daughter Mia were warmly awaiting us. We followed them into a small living room where Mia, the fearless 2-year-old, quickly went back to her favorite game of jumping off the furniture. The sight of an easily accessible open window with no screen gave us pause, and we suggested several ways to prevent Mia from accidently falling out. Janelle, a first-time mom, thanked us for the advice. She soon became more relaxed and began speaking candidly about the importance of supporting her daughter. In the less personal atmosphere of a clinic examination room, the interaction with a young mother might not reveal the parent’s strengths, but by visiting Janelle in her home environment and watching her interactions with Mia, we could appreciate just how committed she was. Just over half a century ago, 40% of physician–patient encounters were in the home.1 It was … Address correspondence to Igor Shumskiy, MD, Boston Medical Center, 720 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118. E-mail: igor.shumskiy{at}childrens.harvard.edu

Indoor air quality in green-renovated vs. non-green low-income homes of children living in a temperate region of US (Ohio)

Green eco-friendly housing includes approaches to reduce indoor air pollutant sources and to increase energy efficiency. Although sealing/tightening buildings can save energy and reduce the penetration of outdoor pollutants, an adverse outcome can be increased buildup of pollutants with indoor sources. The objective of this study was to determine the differences in the indoor air quality (IAQ) between green and non-green homes in low-income housing complexes. In one housing complex, apartments were renovated using green principles (n=28). Home visits were conducted immediately after the renovation, and subsequently at 6months and at 12months following the renovation. Of these homes, eight homes had pre-renovation home visits; this allowed pre- and post-renovation comparisons within the same homes. Parallel visits were conducted in non-green (control) apartments (n=14) in a nearby low-income housing complex. The IAQ assessments included PM2.5, black carbon, ultrafine particles, sulfur, total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and air exchange rate. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. None of the indoor pollutant concentrations were significantly different between green and non-green homes. However, we found differences when comparing the concentrations before and after renovation. Measured immediately after renovation, indoor black carbon concentrations were significantly lower averaging 682ng/m3 in post-renovation vs. 2364ng/m3 in pre-renovation home visits (p=0.01). In contrast, formaldehyde concentrations were significantly higher in post-renovated (0.03ppm) than in pre-renovated homes (0.01ppm) (p=0.004). Questionnaire data showed that opening of windows occurred less frequently in homes immediately post-renovation compared to pre-renovation; this factor likely affected the levels of indoor black carbon (from outdoor sources) and formaldehyde (from indoor sources) more than the renovation status itself. To reduce IAQ problems and potentially improve health, careful selection of indoor building materials and ensuring sufficient ventilation are important for green building designs.

A Communicative Analysis of a Sexual Health Screening Intervention Conducted in a Low-Income Housing Complex

Providing free HIV screening within public housing sites offers the potential for increased participation of at-risk populations. Residential-based screening, however, raises concerns about privacy because of the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS and even to the testing for HIV. This study examined the effectiveness of offering HIV screening within a public housing high-rise in upstate New York. Through interviews with both women who obtained testing and those who did not, this study explored the tension between convenience and privacy concerns. The findings suggest that offering HIV screening where people live could encourage participation in the screenings, as well as lead to a destigmatization of HIV testing over time. Some women chose to eschew the convenience of on-site testing in favor of a more private venue for screening, whereas some women responded positively to the accessibility of on-site testing, using communicative strategies to manage privacy concerns.

DÜŞÜK GELİR GRUBUNA YÖNELİK KONUT PROJELERİNDE UYGULANAN SOSYAL DESTEK PROGRAMLARI: ABD’DEKİ TOPLULUK KORUMA VE GELİŞTİRME KURUMU (CPDC) ÖRNEĞİ

Housing is among the one of the most basic needs of human-beings. As a result of this, different countries in the world apply different methods to address housing needs of low-income people by considering the consequences of the housing efforts. Generally, these low-income housing projects are under the risk of being ruined, becoming crime and drug dealing areas. In order to deal with this risk, some countries prefer to disperse the social housing units in different neighborhoods for avoiding ghettoization problem; whereas some countries prefer to develop concentrated low income housing projects and provide social support programs in these housing complexes. In this article, the projects of Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC), which is a nonprofit organization pioneered in combing real estate development to social support programs in the U.S., will be evaluated as an example of social support programs in low-income housing complexes.

Effects of exercise on physical self-concept, global self-esteem, and depression in women of low socioeconomic status with elevated depressive symptoms.

We examined the possible mediating role of physical self-perceptions, physical self-esteem, and global self-esteem in the relationships between exercise and depression in a group of socioeconomically disadvantaged women with elevated symptoms of depression. Forty-four female residents of a low-income housing complex were randomized into a 7-week-long exercise-training group or a wait-list group. Depression, physical self-perceptions and self-esteem were measured repeatedly. Significant changes were found for depression, self-esteem, physical self-worth, and self-perceived physical condition in the exercise-training group. Intent-to-treat analyses did not alter the results. Most of the reduction in depression occurred between Week 2 and Week 4 while initial improvement in physical self-worth and self-perceived physical condition was observed between baseline and Week 2. These variables can be seen as plausible mechanisms for effects of exercise on depression.

Feasibility of a Yoga Intervention for Enhancing the Mental Well-Being and Physical Functioning of Older Adults Living in the Community

This study assessed the feasibility of a yoga intervention to improve the mental and physical well-being of older adults. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 18 older adults living in a low-income housing complex. Utilizing a classical experimental design, the participants were assigned to either a yoga group or a socialization group; both met twice a week for an hour for four weeks. Results showed that although there is inconclusive evidence to demonstrate that the yoga intervention was superior to the socialization group in improving mental and physical health, yoga could provide some benefit for older adults.

Risk and Resilience in Latinos: A Community-Based Participatory Research Study

Latino youth in low-income households have a higher likelihood of poor educational and health outcomes than their peers. Protective factors, such as parental support, improve chances of success for youth. A community-academic partnership used community-based participatory research principles to examine perceptions of resilience among Latino young people in low-income households. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted in 2007 with Latino young people living in an urban low-income housing complex (n=20); their parents (n=10); and representatives from local community-based organizations (n=8) to explore their definitions of youth "success," and barriers to and facilitators of success. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, coded, and analyzed using content-analysis and grounded theory in 2007. Participants identified self, family, and community factors as potential sources of support. Parents appeared to de-emphasize community resources, expressing that success resulted primarily from a child's individual desire, bolstered by family support. All stakeholder groups perceived peers more as potential barriers to achieving success than as potential sources of support. These findings raise the possibility that in this community, low-income Latino parents' beliefs about community resources may act as a barrier to seeking assistance outside the family. Results also suggest that Latino youth recognize the benefits of interacting with adults outside the family and are accepting of help from the community. Resilience promotion programs in this population may benefit from engaging parents and community members in addition to young people. Parent-focused programs could explore parental beliefs about youth success, and youth programs could engage adult community members to generate positive interactions and messages.

The Alliance for Progress and housing policy in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires in the 1960s

ABSTRACTThis article explores the construction of publicly financed low-income housing complexes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the 1960s. These housing developments were possible thanks to the arrival of foreign economic and technical assistance from the Alliance for Progress. Urban scholars, politicians, diplomats and urbanists of the Americas sought to promote middle-class habits, mass consumption and moderate political behaviour, especially among the poor, by expanding access to homeownership and ‘decent’ living conditions for a burgeoning urban population. As a result, the history of low-income housing should be understood within broader transnational discourses and practices about the ‘modernization’ and ‘development’ of the urban poor.

Safe To Walk? Neighborhood Safety and Physical Activity Among Public Housing Residents

BackgroundDespite its health benefits, physical inactivity is pervasive, particularly among those living in lower-income urban communities. In such settings, neighborhood safety may impact willingness to be regularly physically active. We examined the association of perceived neighborhood safety with pedometer-determined physical activity and physical activity self-efficacy.Methods and FindingsParticipants were 1,180 predominantly racial/ethnic minority adults recruited from 12 urban low-income housing complexes in metropolitan Boston. Participants completed a 5-d pedometer data-collection protocol and self-reported their perceptions of neighborhood safety and self-efficacy (i.e., confidence in the ability to be physically active). Gender-stratified bivariate and multivariable random effects models were estimated to account for within-site clustering. Most participants reported feeling safe during the day, while just over one-third (36%) felt safe at night. We found no association between daytime safety reports and physical activity among both men and women. There was also no association between night-time safety reports and physical activity among men (p = 0.23) but women who reported feeling unsafe (versus safe) at night showed significantly fewer steps per day (4,302 versus 5,178, p = 0.01). Perceiving one's neighborhood as unsafe during the day was associated with significantly lower odds of having high physical activity self-efficacy among both men (OR 0.40, p = 0.01) and women (OR 0.68, p = 0.02).ConclusionsResiding in a neighborhood that is perceived to be unsafe at night is a barrier to regular physical activity among individuals, especially women, living in urban low-income housing. Feeling unsafe may also diminish confidence in the ability to be more physically active. Both of these factors may limit the effectiveness of physical activity promotion strategies delivered in similar settings.

Psychosocial Correlates of Mammography Screening in Older African American Women

To explore psychosocial correlates of older African American women's adherence to annual mammography screening, including cancer fatalism, dispositional optimism, social support, knowledge of breast cancer screening guidelines, perceptions of general health, and components of the Health Belief Model (HBM), and to examine factors associated with annual mammography screening. Cross-sectional survey. Central North Carolina. 198 African American women aged 50-98 years living in low-income housing. Women attended group sessions at low-income housing complexes and completed questionnaires. Differences between women who had or did not have a mammogram in the previous year were explored using correlate variables associated with the HBM. Stepwise multivariable regression models were fit to explore factors associated with social support and significant components of the HBM. Demographics, cancer fatalism, dispositional optimism, social support, perceptions of general health, components of the HBM, and mammography in the past year. The groups did not differ by age, education, marital status, having a friend or family member with breast cancer, ever having had a clinical breast examination, self-rated health, cancer fatalism, dispositional optimism, or feelings about the seriousness of and their susceptibility to breast cancer. The groups differed significantly on mammogram-related variables, how often women should have clinical breast examinations, benefits and barriers to mammography screening, and social support. Stepwise multivariable regression analyses showed that dispositional optimism and social support were related significantly to perception of benefits; education, dispositional optimism, and cancer fatalism were related to barriers; and dispositional optimism was related to social support. Older, low-income, African American women have perceived barriers to cancer screening, educational and cancer knowledge detriments, and a lack of health-related social support that may decrease adherence to mammography screening. The next step is to develop culturally appropriate educational interventions that increase knowledge about breast cancer and screening guidelines, enhance health-related social support, and address barriers and perhaps cancer fatalism in older, low-income, African American women.

Churches and the Urban Poor: Interaction and Social Distance

Although the social isolation of the urban poor has been well documented, the analysis has only alluded to, and rarely detailed, the isolation of the urban poor from churches and other religious institutions. This article outlines fmdings from survey research conducted in three low-income housing complexes in Indianapolis, focusing on the extent to which the housing complex residents had been contacted by churches, had attended churches, and had become members of churches. The survey data confirms both a scarcity of direct church-initiated contact with low-income neighbors; and a significantly smaller percentage of church attendance and membership among the housing complex sample than among Americans in general. A number of socio-cultural factors are proposed as explanation for low levels of interaction between churches and low-income populations, including cultural predispositions by churches and the urban poor toward one another.

The Well: a neighborhood-based health promotion model for black women.

The Well is a community-based drop-in, self-help wellness center located in a high-quality low-income housing complex in Los Angeles. It represents an empowerment approach to developing culturally appropriate neighborhood-based health promotion for women. Wellness is defined by Well members as achieving and maintaining physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. In this article, the term black refers to African American women and all other women of African descent whose citizenship or ethnic identification is not American (for example, women from the Caribbean, Africa, or Europe). This article describes the process of development and current characteristics of The Well and presents suggestions for replicating this process in other communities. Although women constitute only 7 percent of the women in California, they experience disproportionately poorer health outcomes than other female population groups. A profile of women's health status in California from 1984 to 1994 indicates that women had the shortest life expectancy, the highest levels of mortality at every age, the highest mortality from heart disease and stoke, the highest prevalence of hypertension and obesity, the highest mortality rates from homicide and AIDS, and the highest incidence of other sexually transmitted diseases (Nelson & Dumbauld, 1997). Black women between 15 and 34 years of age are more likely to be victims of unintentional injury and homicide, involved in domestic violence; report low self-esteem, increased depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and eating disorders; experience higher rates of infant mortality and low birth-weight babies; and experience problems with reproductive health and obesity compared to white and Latina women residing in the state (California Women's Health Project, 1993). For women between 35 and 64 years of age, the effect of alcohol and tobacco, a sedentary lifestyle, and nutritional imbalances influence poor health status. This age cohort is marked by the development of chronic major illnesses that span a significant portion of a women's life. Cancer, particularly lung cancer, is the leading cause of death for this group of women. Despite higher rates of screening, mammography and self-examination, women experience higher rates of death from breast cancer than women of other ethnicities. They also experience higher rates of death from cervical cancer, heart disease, liver disease, stroke, and diabetes. (California Women's Health Project, 1993). Black women ages 65 years and older are at greater risk of death from heart disease than cancer. Diabetes, pneumonia, influenza, and coronary obstructive pulmonary disorder are the leading causes of death among this group of women, as well as other populations in this age cohort. GETTING STARTED: DEVELOPMENT OF THE WELL The Well was established by the California Black Women's Health Project (CBWHP) in 1994. CBWHP serves as the statewide coordinating arm of the National Black Women's Health Project (NBWHP), a self-help and health advocacy organization founded in 1983 to promote the health of women through community-based, grassroots initiatives. In 1994 the NBWHP contracted with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Psychology Department to help develop the statewide organization. The James Irvine Foundation, as part of its Women's Health Initiative, funded the development of the CBWHP. The vision of The Well emerged at a planning retreat attended by 40 women to develop a vision and action plan to promote their wellness and to improve their health status. The planners were invited to participate on the basis of their prior involvement with the NBWHP and their record of community activism on women's issues. Participants engaged in a group process where they shared personal and community issues, concerns, and goals regarding health and wellness. …

Images of Adult Dropouts as Mothers∗

∗The statements included in this essay were taken from interviews conducted over a six week period at a low-income housing complex. Pseudonyms are used for participants, their children, and schools attended by them and their children. The language used by participants during interviews has not been altered.

Health and nutritional status of old-old African Americans.

This study reports the initial results of a baseline cross-sectional evaluation of the health and nutritional status of 58 old-old African Americans, 74 years of age and older, residing in low income housing complexes in metropolitan Oklahoma City. Although the population had a high overall functional status, cognitive status, and mood, there were a number of nutritional parameters suggestive of nutritional risk. In particular, 20% of subjects had relatively low serum albumin levels, 14% had serum cholesterol levels below 160 mg/dl, and a subset of the population reported low intake during 24 hour dietary recall. The National Center and Caucus on Black Aged report that 60% of African American elders live at or below the poverty level. These study findings suggest that the present cohort of African American elders may be at nutritional risk.

An Evaluation of HIV Education Messengers in a Black Low Income Housing Complex

Abstract The purpose of this article is to describe results of a quasi-experimental study of HIV education messengers in a Black low income housing complex in Prince George's County, Maryland. AIDS is increasingly exacting a disproportionate toll on lower income, Black communities. Although Whites still constitute the majority of the AIDS cases overall, Blacks are affected by AIDS in numbers far greater than their relative percentage in the population. Community-based organizations have been funded by the federal government and private foundations to mount culturally sensitive HIV education and prevention programs in order to reach those Blacks whose behavior places them at greatest risk for HIV infection. Advocates for AIDS prevention in minority communities often assume that in order for AIDS educators to have trust and credibility, they must be of the same racial/ethnic background as participants. Results from this study demonstrated that the intuitive rationale for matching the racial identity of the ...