Further Inspection: Integrating Housing Code Enforcement and Social Services to Improve Community Health

As a result of working inside homes, city housing inspectors witness hidden and serious threats to public health. However, systems to respond to the range of problems they encounter are lacking. In this study, we describe the impact and enabling environment for integrating a novel Social Service Ref...

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Autores principales:	Katharine Robb, Ashley Marcoux, Jorrit de Jong
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	housing code enforcement urban health housing inspection social services collaboration Medicine R
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/24c2989014f24a49b41c909f8a5aa678
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:24c2989014f24a49b41c909f8a5aa6782021-11-25T17:50:20ZFurther Inspection: Integrating Housing Code Enforcement and Social Services to Improve Community Health10.3390/ijerph1822120141660-46011661-7827https://doaj.org/article/24c2989014f24a49b41c909f8a5aa6782021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/22/12014https://doaj.org/toc/1661-7827https://doaj.org/toc/1660-4601As a result of working inside homes, city housing inspectors witness hidden and serious threats to public health. However, systems to respond to the range of problems they encounter are lacking. In this study, we describe the impact and enabling environment for integrating a novel Social Service Referral Program within the Inspectional Services Department in Chelsea, MA. To evaluate the first eight months of the program, we used a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data from 15 referrals and qualitative interviews with six key informants (inspectors, a case manager, and city leadership). The most common services provided to residents referred by inspectors were for fuel, food, and rent assistance; healthcare; hoarding; and homelessness prevention. Half of referred residents were not receiving other social services. Inspectors reported increased work efficiency and reduced psychological burden because of the program. Interviewees described how quality of life improved not only for referred residents but also for the surrounding neighborhood. A simple referral process that made inspectors’ jobs easier and a trusted, well-connected service provider funded to carry out the work facilitated the program’s uptake and impact. Housing inspectors’ encounters with residents present a unique opportunity to expand the public health impact of housing code enforcement.Katharine RobbAshley MarcouxJorrit de JongMDPI AGarticlehousingcode enforcementurban healthhousing inspectionsocial servicescollaborationMedicineRENInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 18, Iss 12014, p 12014 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	housing code enforcement urban health housing inspection social services collaboration Medicine R
spellingShingle	housing code enforcement urban health housing inspection social services collaboration Medicine R Katharine Robb Ashley Marcoux Jorrit de Jong Further Inspection: Integrating Housing Code Enforcement and Social Services to Improve Community Health
description	As a result of working inside homes, city housing inspectors witness hidden and serious threats to public health. However, systems to respond to the range of problems they encounter are lacking. In this study, we describe the impact and enabling environment for integrating a novel Social Service Referral Program within the Inspectional Services Department in Chelsea, MA. To evaluate the first eight months of the program, we used a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data from 15 referrals and qualitative interviews with six key informants (inspectors, a case manager, and city leadership). The most common services provided to residents referred by inspectors were for fuel, food, and rent assistance; healthcare; hoarding; and homelessness prevention. Half of referred residents were not receiving other social services. Inspectors reported increased work efficiency and reduced psychological burden because of the program. Interviewees described how quality of life improved not only for referred residents but also for the surrounding neighborhood. A simple referral process that made inspectors’ jobs easier and a trusted, well-connected service provider funded to carry out the work facilitated the program’s uptake and impact. Housing inspectors’ encounters with residents present a unique opportunity to expand the public health impact of housing code enforcement.
format	article
author	Katharine Robb Ashley Marcoux Jorrit de Jong
author_facet	Katharine Robb Ashley Marcoux Jorrit de Jong
author_sort	Katharine Robb
title	Further Inspection: Integrating Housing Code Enforcement and Social Services to Improve Community Health
title_short	Further Inspection: Integrating Housing Code Enforcement and Social Services to Improve Community Health
title_full	Further Inspection: Integrating Housing Code Enforcement and Social Services to Improve Community Health
title_fullStr	Further Inspection: Integrating Housing Code Enforcement and Social Services to Improve Community Health
title_full_unstemmed	Further Inspection: Integrating Housing Code Enforcement and Social Services to Improve Community Health
title_sort	further inspection: integrating housing code enforcement and social services to improve community health
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/24c2989014f24a49b41c909f8a5aa678
work_keys_str_mv	AT katharinerobb furtherinspectionintegratinghousingcodeenforcementandsocialservicestoimprovecommunityhealth AT ashleymarcoux furtherinspectionintegratinghousingcodeenforcementandsocialservicestoimprovecommunityhealth AT jorritdejong furtherinspectionintegratinghousingcodeenforcementandsocialservicestoimprovecommunityhealth
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Further Inspection: Integrating Housing Code Enforcement and Social Services to Improve Community Health

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