Soros Advocacy Fellowship for Physicians

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Case Studies

Fellowship Partnering Organization: Committee for Boston Public Housing
Home Institution: Boston Medical Center

This two-year advocacy project had three main goals for its work with the Committee for Boston Public Housing: create enhanced transfer screening criteria and procedures to reasonably accommodate tenants with health emergencies; develop recommendations and guidelines regarding the Boston Housing Authority's approach to maintenance and repairs, to improve the effectiveness and timeliness of health-related repairs; and develop and perform resident education and advocacy to empower residents to create a healthy home.

Fellowship Successes

• Dr. Sandel trained development managers, maintenance supervisors, occupancy specialists, and reasonable accommodation staff at Boston Housing Authority (BHA) about connections between housing and health. The trainings also reviewed BHA responsibilities in maintenance, and what residents can do to keep homes healthier.
• Resident trainings were set up at eight public housing developments to help residents understand connections between housing and health. Special education materials developed with the Boston Public Health Commission were distributed, including supplies to help residents keep homes healthy.
• Dozens of cases regarding medical transfer were reviewed with residents and Boston Housing Authority.
• Resident accommodation forms were changed to include asthma-specific information.
• Resident transfer information was changed on the Boston Housing Authority website.