May 28, 2025
Substandard housing can pose a significant risk to health and well-being. A wealth of research shows an association between poor conditions, such as mold, leaks, and pests, and respiratory illness. Additionally, physical hazards such as unprotected windows and exposed heating sources are linked to increased injuries, particularly among children. Yet despite the health risks of substandard living conditions, many low-income households are unable to access safe, quality housing. High housing costs often leave renters with few affordable options beyond deteriorating and poorly maintained properties.
Supported by a Housing Solutions Lab catalyst grant, a team of housing and environmental health stakeholders came together to begin promoting healthy housing standards in Tacoma, WA. Based on feedback from community residents about housing quality concerns, the partners aimed to develop a public-facing Healthy Housing Registry of properties that meet a set of minimum standards. Team members from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and the Tacoma-Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium collaborated to 1) identify a set of practical baseline standards; 2) develop a public resource for residents to connect with healthy rental properties; and 3) encourage landlords and property managers to register their properties and maintain the standards.
Identifying standards and building registry infrastructure
Inspired by the National Center for Healthy Housing’s Healthy Housing Standards, the team prioritized a subset of standards for the registry focused on non-smoking policies, mold management, and pest control. The standards reflected resident concerns identified in prior community surveys and focus groups conducted by the public health department. To gather input and support from property managers, the team shared the registry’s goals and proposed standards through presentations to members of the Tacoma-Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium (AHC). The consortium includes a diverse membership of organizations that build, finance, and manage affordable housing in Pierce County. Drawing on input from consortium members, the team developed a set of non-smoking, pest, and mold management plans for property managers to implement in order to be included in the registry.
After finalizing the registry standards and management plans, the health department team began building the web-based GIS registry infrastructure. They also developed a communications plan to support landlord recruitment and public education about the registry.
Outcomes and challenges
During the initial project year, the team began the recruitment of over 300 properties for the registry from a previous county Smoke Free Housing initiative. Additionally, the team secured commitment from the Tacoma Housing Authority to register their rental inventory, approximately 1,300 units across 16 properties. A few smaller property managers also joined as early adopters. Recruitment has been challenging, however, and most phone and email attempts have not yielded registrations. In-person recruitment has been more promising, supported by strong messaging about the registry’s goals and its voluntary nature. In the next phase of the project, the team may pursue additional incentives that connect registration with eligibility for weatherization, electrification, and general repair funds.
Key takeaways
- Identifying a focused set of voluntary healthy housing standards provides a practical approach for housing and health partners to begin addressing housing quality concerns. Property managers may feel overwhelmed by an extensive list of requirements, but gaining their early support for a few key standards can help build understanding, foster trust, and create a foundation for maintaining healthier housing conditions over time.
- Recruiting property managers to voluntarily adopt healthy housing standards and join a registry requires clear messaging and ongoing outreach. Emphasizing the benefits for housing providers, such as improved tenant retention and lower long-term maintenance costs, can help increase interest and participation. Additional incentives may also be needed.
- Awareness of local ordinances such as rent increase caps and restrictions on evictions is crucial when promoting healthy housing standards, as they may influence property managers’ willingness and capacity to make improvements.
Next steps
In the coming months, the team will prioritize in-person outreach to additional large property management firms and pursue incentives to encourage greater participation in the registry. The county health department will begin promoting the tool to the public through social media, online communications, and relevant community events. Additionally, the team will share insights from the project with other county health departments that have expressed interest in launching similar initiatives.
