Childhood Asthma, Public Housing, and Environmental Control: Differences Between Families Renting with Section 8 Vouchers and Those Living in the Projects

ABSTRACT

Hazardous environments (both indoor and outdoor) play a role in explaining asthma disparities between poor and affluent children. Through a focus on Phoenix (Arizona) case, this article examines the historical development of subsidized housing and the contemporary role that it plays in protecting poor children with asthma from environmental triggers. Through in-depth interviews with parents, the ways in which living in subsidized housing influences control over the environment and by extension children's asthma are explored. Experiences of families living in public housing apartment complexes and those renting homes with Section 8 vouchers are compared. It is found that the choices offered to Section 8 families allow them more control over their environment, which allows them to create better microenvironments in which to manage asthma.

KEYWORDS:

• Children's asthma
• subsidized housing
• public housing
• environmental justice
• Phoenix
• AZ

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