1. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Healthy Home Behaviors Among U.S. Households: Perception Versus Reality Mariel Wolfson

2. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Nearly One in Four Householders Expressed Concern About Healthy Home Problems or Risks Notes: Sample size is 2,249. Households were asked, “In the past few years, how concerned have you been about your current home negatively affecting your or another occupant’s health? “ Source: JCHS tabulations of Healthy Home Owner Survey, The Farnsworth Group. Are people concerned about these issues?

3. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Who is concerned about healthy housing? Variables we considered… –Presence of Children –Minority status –Income (High/Low) –College Educated –Sex –Marital status

4. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Households with Children, Minorities, College Graduates, High Income Households More Likely to Have Concerns Who is concerned….? Notes: Households were asked, “In the past few years, how concerned have you been about your current home negatively affecting your or another occupant’s health? “ (*) Indicates no significant difference of proportions according to Chi-square test. Source: JCHS tabulations of Healthy Home Owner Survey, The Farnsworth Group. Share of Owner Households (Percent)

5. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Households with Children, Minorities, College Graduates, High Income Households More Likely to Have Concerns Option 2: Who is concerned….? Notes: Households were asked, “In the past few years, how concerned have you been about your current home negatively affecting your or another occupant’s health? “ (*) Indicates no significant difference of proportions according to Chi-square test. Source: JCHS tabulations of Healthy Home Owner Survey, The Farnsworth Group. Share of Owner Households (Percent)

6. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Two Main Categories of Healthy Home Issues Basic –Safety of the neighborhood –Accessibility in or around the home –Safety or comfort of the physical structure –Other basic safety issues (pests, child-safety) Basic –Safety of the neighborhood –Accessibility in or around the home –Safety or comfort of the physical structure –Other basic safety issues (pests, child-safety) ‘Invisible’ –Indoor air quality –Harmful materials/ chemicals in the home –Water quality –Other indoor issues (Too much noise, too little sunlight, etc.) ‘Invisible’ –Indoor air quality –Harmful materials/ chemicals in the home –Water quality –Other indoor issues (Too much noise, too little sunlight, etc.)

7. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE More than 4 out of 5 Concerned Homeowner Specified one or more ‘Invisible’ Concerns Notes: Sample size is 529. Households that expressed some basic level of healthy housing interest/concern were asked, “Which general category(ies) best describes your concern about the impact of your home on your household’s health? “ Source: JCHS tabulations of Healthy Home Owner Survey, The Farnsworth Group. Share of Owner Households Selecting Healthy Housing Concerns (Percent) In general, what are they concerned about?

8. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Invisible Concerns Topped List Among Homeowners interested in ‘Healthy Housing’ Notes: Sample size is 529. Households that expressed some basic level of healthy housing interest/concern were asked, “Which general category(ies) best describes your concern about the impact of your home on your household’s health? “ In total, 87 percent of households expressed one or more concerns about ‘invisible’ healthy housing issues. Source: JCHS tabulations of Healthy Home Owner Survey, The Farnsworth Group. Share of Owner Households Expressing Concern (Percent) In general, what are they concerned about?

9. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE More than 4 out of 5 Owners worried about ‘Healthy Housing’ Identified one or more ‘Invisible’ Concerns Notes: Sample size is 529. Households that expressed some basic level of healthy housing interest/concern were asked, “Which general category(ies) best describes your concern about the impact of your home on your household’s health? “ Source: JCHS tabulations of Healthy Home Owner Survey, The Farnsworth Group. Share of Owner Households Selecting ‘Invisible’ Healthy Housing Concerns (Percent) In general, what are they concerned about?

10. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Top ‘Invisible’ Healthy Housing Concerns Notes: Sample size is 465. Households that expressed some basic interest in ‘invisible’ healthy housing issues were asked, “Among the healthy home issues that concern your household, please select up to three of them that generate the most concern.“ Source: JCHS tabulations of Healthy Home Owner Survey, The Farnsworth Group. Issues that Generated the Most Concern For Households Expressing ‘Invisible’ Healthy Housing Concerns (Share)

11. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Closer Look at ‘Invisible’ Healthy Home Concerns: Indoor Air Pollution Notes: Sample size is 465. Households that expressed some basic interest in ‘invisible’ healthy housing issues were asked, “Of the following healthy home issues, how would you rate your level of concern/interest over the past few years regarding your current home?“ Source: JCHS tabulations of Healthy Home Owner Survey, The Farnsworth Group. Share of Owners Rating Specific Indoor Air Pollution Issues as a source of their Invisible Healthy Housing Concern(s) (Percent)

12. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Closer Look at ‘Invisible’ Healthy Home Concerns: Indoor Environmental Health Notes: Sample size is 465. Households that expressed some basic interest in ‘invisible’ healthy housing issues were asked, “Of the following healthy home issues, how would you rate your level of concern/interest over the past few years regarding your current home?“ Source: JCHS tabulations of Healthy Home Owner Survey, The Farnsworth Group. Share of Owners Rating Specific Indoor Environmental Health Issues as a source of their Invisible Healthy Housing Concern(s) (Percent)

13. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Closer Look at ‘Invisible’ Healthy Home Concerns: House Site / Location Notes: Sample size is 465. Households that expressed some basic interest in ‘invisible’ healthy housing issues were asked, “Of the following healthy home issues, how would you rate your level of concern/interest over the past few years regarding your current home?“ Source: JCHS tabulations of Healthy Home Owner Survey, The Farnsworth Group. Share of Owners Rating Specific House Site / Location Issues as a source of their Invisible Healthy Housing Concern(s) (Percent)

14. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Profile of Households Specifically Concerned about “Invisible’ Healthy Housing Issues Among those who expressed some baseline ‘healthy housing concern… White households, females, college educated, more likely to express ‘invisible’ concerns Income, marital status, presence of children had no measurable effect on specific type of interest

15. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE EXTRA SLIDES  (These were rough drafts, but there may be something in here you’d like to see)

16. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Presence of Children was A Major Factor Driving up Healthy Home Concerns Share of Owner Households Expressing Healthy Home Concerns (Percent) Who is concerned….?

17. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Minority Status was Also a Factor Associated with More Healthy Housing Concerns Share of Owner Households Expressing Healthy Home Concerns (Percent) Who is concerned….?

18. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE High Income Households Also More Likely to be Concerned Share of Owner Households Expressing Healthy Home Concerns (Percent) Who is concerned….?

19. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE College Educated Households Had Somewhat higher Rate of Concern Share of Owner Households Expressing Healthy Home Concerns (Percent) Who is concerned….?

20. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Presence of Children and Minority Status were Both Associated with Healthy Housing Concerns Share of Owner Households Expressing Healthy Home Concerns (Percent) Who is concerned….?

21. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE High Income and Very Low Income Homeowners Expressed More Healthy Housing Concerns Share of Owner Households Expressing Healthy Home Concerns (Percent) Who is concerned….?

22. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE High and Low Income Homeowners, Especially with Children, had More Healthy Housing Concerns Share of Owner Households Expressing Healthy Home Concerns (Percent) Who is concerned….?

23. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Profile Of Households Expressing Any Level of Concern Share of Households (Percent) Concerned Not Concerned All Households in the Survey Married7472 One or more Children473034 Minority211415 College Graduate484142 Female504748 High Income (>$100K)282022

24. ©2012 PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Most Owners Expressed Concern About 1-2 ‘Invisible’ Issues; Many also Expressed Basic Safety Concerns Notes: Sample size is 529. Households that expressed some basic level of healthy housing interest/concern were asked, “Which general category(ies) best describes your concern about the impact of your home on your household’s health? “ In total, 87 percent of households expressed one or more concerns about ‘invisible’ healthy housing issues. Source: JCHS tabulations of Healthy Home Owner Survey, The Farnsworth Group. Distribution of Owner Households Expressing Invisible ‘Healthy Housing’ Concerns (Share)