title: Affordable housing and health: a health impact assessment on physical inspection frequency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the prevalence of health-related housing quality exposure for the vulnerable populations that live in affordable housing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Affordable housing properties in Ohio inspected between 2007 and 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stratified random sample of physical inspection reports (n = 370), including a case study of properties receiving multiple inspections (n = 35).
  
  
  METHODS
  Health-related housing factors, including mold, fire hazard, and others.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of affordable housing property inspections (85.1%) included at least 1 health-related housing quality issue. The prevalence of specific health-related violations was varied, with appliance and plumbing issues being the most common, followed by fire, mold, and pest violations. Across funding agencies, the actual implementation of inspection protocols differed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of physical inspections identified housing quality issues that have the potential to impact human health. If the frequency of physical inspections is reduced as a result of inspection alignment, the most health protective inspection protocol should be selected for funding agency inspections; a standardized physical inspection tool is recommended to improve the consistency of inspection findings between mandatory physical inspections in order to promote optimum tenant health.
authors.affiliation: Health Behavior & Health Promotion (Dr Klein and Ms Keller), Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus; Impact Supportive Services, CPO Management, Columbus, Ohio (Dr Hood); and Research and Strategic Planning, Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Columbus (Dr Holtzen).
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Brittney
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hood
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Holtzen
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D062489:Health Impact Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006798:Housing / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009820:Ohio; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies