accessibility and livability in southwest portland

Accessibility & Livability in Southwest Portland

Mission Statement

Our goal is to represent and quantify the neighborhood’s access to resources that are components of a healthy and happy community. We have partnered with Neighborhood House to research, map, and evaluate the availability of resources to their clients in Southwest Portland, based on the San Francisco Health Department’s Healthy

Development Measurement Tool.

i

Instructor:Meg Merrick

Team Members:Kevin Collins

Jordan FanningGrant Hein

Keith MichaelsJohn Novelli

Courtney SavoieShawn SmithPeter Soots

Amy StaplesElise Witte

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Table of Contents

iii

Background..................................................................1-9 Methods...................................................................10-11

Results.....................................................................12-23

Discussion......................................................................24

Appendix A..............................................................25-28

Appendix B...................................................................29

Works Cited.............................................................30-31

A Brief History of Neighborhood House In1905,thePortlandchapteroftheNationalCouncilofJewishWomen founded Neighborhood House. The founding members,IdaandZerlina Loewenberg,were inspiredby the settlementhousemovementandreformers likeHull-House inChicagoandestablishedNeighborhood House in order to counter the social disintegration,poverty, andproblemsassociatedwith the largenumbersofpeopleimmigratingtotheU.S.attheturnoflastcentury(Lowenstein,1987),(NeighborhoodHouse). Early Neighborhood House programs enhanced immigrants’employmentanddomesticskills;sewingandEnglishclassesbolsteredrecreationprogramsandclubsandthecommunitycenterwasopentoallpeople.ThefirstgraduateofthesewingschoolwasayoungAfrican-AmericannamedGraceDuncanandhalfoftheEnglishstudentswerenotJewish(Lowenstein,1987).BeyondbecomingthemostimportantcommunitycenterinSouthPortland,NeighborhoodHouseadvocatedtolimitchildlaborandtoconvincethecitytobuildaparkfortheSouthPortlandcommunity.Laterinthe1920sthewomenofNeighborhoodHouse established Portland’s firstwell-baby clinic and kindergarten.In the late 1940s, vocational training became less of a focus and aScholarshipLoanFundwasestablishedtonurturecollegeopportunitiesforthefirstgenerationchildren(NeighborhoodHouse). As levelsof immigration toPortlandchangedover theyears,Neighborhood House restructured itself from a vast array of socialprogramstoaneighborhoodrecreationalandcommunitycenter.Thechanging demographics in Portland since the 1970s have broughtmanynewchallengestotheagency,includingamovetoMultnomahVillage to better serve the area. The Emergency FoodBoxProgram,createdinconjunctionwithlocalchurches,isoperatedalongwiththerestoftheagencyonCapitolHighway.Inthe1990s,manyprograms

for childrenand familieswereadded includingHeadStartprogramsforprekindergarten,aParentingProgram,andYouth&FamilyServices.Morerecently theSchoolsUnitingNeighborhoods (SUN)communityschool programs and the Child Care Improvement Project have

been introduced while Neighborhood House extended services toWashington County, downtown Portland, the west side, and NorthPortland.NeighborhoodHousealsolaunchedCASASTART,anationally-renownedsubstanceabuseanddelinquencypreventionprogramforat-riskyouthatthreemoreschools(NeighborhoodHouse).

Somali Refugees in Southwest Portland NeighborhoodHousecurrentlyservesrecentSomaliimmigrantslivinginSouthwestPortland.Theyareworkingtohelptheseimmigrants’cope with their sudden displacement. War-torn Somalia has been

Background

Accessibility & Livability in Southwest Portland 1

scatteringrefugeesallovertheworldsincetheearly1970s.Theyfleetorture,oppression,andeconomichardshipcausedinpartbyanever-shifting,ineffectualgovernmentaswellaswarringclansandwarlords.Alargepercentageoftheserefugeeshaveexperiencedsomeformoftortureandthesubsequentpsychologicalproblemsandpost-traumaticstress disorder associations. Refugee communities from Somaliarequiresocialservicesfromtheirhostcountries,andinstitutionslikeNeighborhoodHouseservemanyoftheseindividuals. Somalishaveoftensufferedtraumaticeventsasaresultoftheexperienceofcivilwar,lackofaformalgovernment,andrelegationtorefugeecamps.OneofthefewstudiesconductedwithEastAfricans,abouthalfofwhichwerefromSomaliatheotherhalfwereOromofromEthiopia,thisstudyshowedthat 44 percent of these East Africanshad been exposed to torture.Womenwere as likely to have experiencedtorture as men and economic factorsplayed little part determining tortureexposure. Ethnic and gender groupsdo determine exposure where OromomenandSomaliwomenaremostoftentortured in this study group (Jaransonetal.,2004).ThishigherincidencerateinOromomenandSomaliwomenmayexistbecausetheOromohaveexperiencedlong-standinginterethnicconflictsandSomaliwomenandchildrenhadatoughertimeleavingthecountrythanmenwhowereeitherkilledorwereallowedtoleaveunimpeded.TorturesurvivorsaremorelikelytoalsosufferfromPostTraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD)and experience physical and psychological problems. These findings

warrantscreeningofrefugeesbutthefactthatlessthanonepercentrequestedorfollowedupareferraltoWesternmentalhealthserviceshighlightstheneedforinvestigationintothisunderutilizationofservicesand how to address the needs of torture survivors and refugees ingeneralfromSomaliaandelsewhere(Jaransonetal.,2004). Immigrationcanbeaverystressfulexperienceonitsown,leavingfamilyandhomelandbehindandencounteringlossofstatus,supportstructure,language,andsomemayfacediscrimination.Refugeeshavepre-andpost-migrationtraumaexperiencesthatmaydirectlyaffect

physicalandpsychologicalhealth.This,inturn,hasanindirecteffectoncopingwiththemanyfacetsoftheacculturationprocess.Thedominantcopingstrategyistoturntoreligiousfaithandparticipantsof the study were least likely toendorse strategies involving emotionalengagement. Different traumaticexperiences promote different copingstrategies.Collectiveevents, threats toloved ones, or assault from a strangerwere likely associated with avoidantcoping strategies, while assault froma familiar other was related to lowerlevels of problem solving and activedistraction(Mathesonetal.,2007).

Somali refugees havemade their homes all over the UnitedStates. Positive acculturation requires substantial socials servicesand community support. Once refugees are established they canstart togivebackand tobecomeapartof thesecommunities. Thisis illustratedby stories like that of Lewiston,Mainewhere an agingimpoverished small town sought social services for their growing

Background

2 Accessibility & Livability in Southwest Portland

Somaliancitizenryandhavebeenrepaidwithamorevibrantandlivelylocal economy. Lewiston conquered fear, racism, and hopelessnesswhen it foundthestrength toopenthecommunity to thesepeoplefromacrosstheworld.Columbus,OhioandMinneapolis,MinnesotahavegreatlybenefitedfromthecultureandeconomyofthisinfluxofEastAfricans(Ellison,2009).

The Head Start ProgramHeadStartisachilddevelopmentprogramdesignedtohelpbreakthecycleofpovertybyprovidingpreschoolchildrenoflow-incomefamilieswithacomprehensiveprogramtomeettheiremotional,social,health,nutritional,andpsychologicalneeds.HeadStart’sprogramutilizestheparentasthechild’sprimaryeducatorandthewholefamilyinadditiontothecommunitymustbeinvolvedinthechild’sdevelopment.HeadStartwasstartedin1965asasummerprogrambytheOfficeofEconomicOpportunitybyapanelofchilddevelopmentexperts.Theprogramwasdesignedtohelpcommunitiesovercomethehandicapofeconomicallydisadvantagedpreschoolchildren.TheHeadStartprogramisavailabletochildrenagedthreetofivefromfamilieswithincomesof$22,050ayearor less.CitizenshipisnotrequiredforenrollmentinHeadStart.Early Head Start, started in 1994, focuses on children six weeks tothreeyearsofageandalsopregnantandpost-partumwomen fromlow-incomefamilies(NeighborhoodHouse). OregonHeadStartPrekindergarten(OPK)isaStateofOregonfundedprogramthatserveslowincomechildrenprovidingcombinationhomebasedandclassroomeducationforchildrenthreetofiveyearsold.Theirmissionistoprovidecomprehensiveeducationalopportunities,supportservices,andcommunityresourcestoempowerandsupportpositivegrowthofchildren,parentsandstaffwhileembracingdiversity.(Neighborhood House) The families in this study are all enrolled in

Background


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Figure 1. Map of Neighborhoods in and Around the Study Area

eitherOPKorthefederallyfundedHeadStartprograms.

The Healthy Development Measurement Tool Communities in San Francisco, under intense developmentpressure,askedofficialstoevaluatehealthandenvironmentalimpactsand advocate for healthy environmental planning. The study wasguidedbyamulti-stakeholdercouncilofover20diverseorganizationsincludingcommunityplanninganddesign,economicandneighborhooddevelopment,environmentaljustice,homeless,openspace,housing,transportation, bicycle, food systems, child care and childhood

developmentadvocates,low-wageandunionworkers,non-profitandprivatedevelopers,property-owners,architects,andsmallbusinesses(Bhatia,2006).Thisprocessresultedinfiveconcreteoutcomes:

•ahealthycityvisionforSanFrancisco•communityhealthobjectivestoreflectthatvision•indicatorstomeasurethoseobjectives• data on those indicators to assess how the citywas doingwithrespecttothatvision•amenuofurbandevelopmentpolicystrategiestoadvancethoseobjectives

Thecouncilsawaneedtointegratethedataandpolicyresearchinto a tool to assess evidence-based, health oriented planning andpolicymaking.Thecouncil’sworkprovidesawellofcontentonwhichtobuildacomprehensivetoolwhichcanbeusedasacommunityhealth“lens”inplanninganddevelopmenttoachievesocial,environmental,economic,andequitableinitiatives(Bhatia,2006).

The Basis for the Healthy Development Measurement Tool The parts of the Healthy Development Measurement Toolthatalignwiththeprojectwereidentified.Theseaspectsbreakdownintofivemajorcategoriesthatallpossessoverlappingattributesandindicators.

1.Airandnoisepollutionfrombusyroadwaysanddesignatedtruckroutesincludesaverageoutdoornoiselevels,proportionofhouseholdslivinginproximitytodesignatedtruckroutesandmajorindustrialsources,andtrafficlevels.

Livingonornearmainthoroughfarescreatesadouble-edgedsword, giving access to public transportation and the detriment ofnoise and air pollution associatedwith busy roadways. The exhaustfrom diesel engines is a known carcinogen. Fine particulates affect

Background


allergies,asthmaattacks,andaggravatechronicrespiratorysymptoms.Studieshaveshownthatchildrenlivingnearbusyroadshavegenerallypoorer lung health than children living in less traffic-prone areas(Brunekfreef, 1997). Large-scale studies show that exposure to fineparticulatematterreleasedbymotorvehiclesandindustryincreasesheartdiseaseandhighbloodpressurerisks(Simkhovich,2008). Noisepollutioneffectsvarydependingonintensityandduration.Traffic noise that is well belowmeasurable hearing loss can have anegativeimpactonstressandcanincreaseriskofhighbloodpressureandheartdisease (Miedema).Sleepdisturbance,annoyance, lossofconcentration, and aggressive behavior are all side effects of noisepollution.Busyroadwaysandhighertrafficvolumeswereassociatedwithresidents’perceptionsofthestreetasunsafe,fewerlocalfriendsandacquaintances,andfeelingsoflossofpersonalspace(Appleyard,1981). Neighborhoodswithhighlevelsofmotorvehicledrivingtendtohavehighermotorvehiclecollisionsandinjuries(HDMT),(Ewingetal.,2006).Theamountoftimespentdrivingalsoimpactshealth.AstudyinAtlantafoundthatforeachadditionalhourinthecar,a6percentincreaseinobesityriskwascorrelated(HDMT),(Franketal.,2004).

2. Access to public transportation includes proportion ofhouseholds within one-quartermile access to public transit,accesstoamajortransitcorridor,andaverageincomespentontransportation.

Proximity to public transit partially determines travel choice.The likelihood of using transit fell 16 percent for every one-quartermileawayfromtransit;only10percentofAmericanswillwalkone-halfmilefornormaltrips.Transituseincreasesenvironmentalhealthby reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from cars(HDMT). Car ownership also determines travel choice, as do clearly

delineatedbikelanes,whichcanencouragebicycleuseandcanlessenthepotentialforbicyclistinjuries.Bicyclingisgoodexercise,decreasingrisk for premature mortality, coronary heart disease, hypertension,coloncancerandType2Diabetes(HDMT),(TaskForce,2001).Bicyclingalsoreducestheamountofbothnoiseandairpollution(HDMT).

3.Accesstorecreationalandeducationalfacilitiesandhealthcareincludesamountofbicyclelanes,healthcarefacilities,andproportionofhouseholdswithinone-quartermileofapublicelementary school, public library, and recreational facility orregionalpark.Inadditiontoproportionofpopulationcoveredby health insurance and health facilities within one-quartermileofpublictransit.

Less than15percentof childrenage5 to15walk to school.Long distances and danger from traffic are the primary barriers,while studies show that schools locatedcloser tohomesuccessfullyencourage children towalk and bicycle to school, limiting pollutionemissions(Dellingeretal.,2002), (Ewingetal.,2005).Theproximityofneighborhoodparksandthetypesoffacilitiesandamenitiesattheparkpredicttheamountofphysicalactivityinchildren(Dellingeretal.,2002).Justasimportantly,accesstocommunityrecreationalfacilitiesalso provides space for social engagement which promotes socialnetworksandsocialcohesion(Bauman&Bull,2007).Physicalactivityinadolescencedirectlyreflectsonstudents’academicperformanceinmathandscience (Nelson&Gordon-Larsen,2006).Astudyofmorethan2,000womenfoundthatmorefitnessfacilitiesintherespondent’szipcodescorrelatedwiththeirbodymassindex(BMI).Theresearchersfoundthatoneadditionalfacilityforeach100residentsinazipcodecorrelatedwithadecreaseinBMIof1.39kilogrampersquaremeter(Mobleyetal.,2006).

Background


Thephysicalpresenceoflibrariesimprovesliteracyandaccesstohealthinformationservingasanimportantpubliceducationalandculturalfacilitybyofferinghealthinformationtohealthprovidersandthe general public. Libraries improve access to resources, facilitateeducational collaborations between agencies and communities, andpromote art and cultural activities (HDMT). Availability of publictransportationtocommunityhealthfacilitiesaffectaccesstoquality,affordable,reliablehealthcarewhilereducingvehicletripsbenefitingairquality,communitynoise,andinjuries. Health care facilities employ a large number of people. Theimportance of locating health care facilities near public transit is inmakingcareaccessibletomorepeopleaswellasmakingtraveltoandfromworkeasierandsaferforemployees(HDMT). Childrenandadultswithouthealthinsurancehavepoorerhealthanddevelopmentthantheirinsuredcounterparts.Theyarealsomorelikelytodieprematurely.TheInstituteofMedicinesaysthateachyear,18,000prematuredeathsareattributabletolackofhealthcoverage.Ahighproportionofuninsuredindividualscanhaveanegativeeffectontheeconomichealthofacommunityandonthehealthcareprovidersand hospitals that serve that community. Emergency services andtraumacenteraccessisalsoaffected(HDMT),(InstituteofMedicine,2004).

4. Access to healthy food includes proportion of householdswithin one-quarter mile of a retail food market, farmer’smarket,CSAdropsite,oracommunitygarden.

Localfoodenvironmentsinfluenceaccesstohealthyfoodchoiceswhichisdirectlycorrelatedtoobesityanddiabetesrates(RegentsoftheUniversityofCalifornia,2008).Supermarketsmayprovideaccesstoagreatervarietyofcheaperandhealthierfoods,especiallyfreshfruits

and vegetables. The presence of a grocery store in a neighborhoodpredictsfruitandvegetableconsumptionandareducedprevalenceofobesity(Morlandetal.,2006),(Inagamietal.,2006).Farmersmarketsprovideaccesstoanothersourceoflocallyproducedfruits,vegetables,andotherfoods.Thesemarketsmayparticularlybenefitareasunderservedbyfullservicesupermarketsandgrocerystorechains(HDMT).AccesstoCommunitySupportedAgriculture(CSA)dropoffsitesandcommunity gardens not only benefit residents in consumption ofhealthy foodsbutprovide a venue for social interaction, supportingsocialcohesionanddevelopingsocialcapital.

5. Community infrastructure & cohesion includes numberof spiritual and religious centers, street treepopulation, andpopulationwithinone-quartermileofabankorcreditunion.Negativeattributesincludeviolentandothercrimestatistics.

Spiritual and religious centers facilitate social networks andfostersocialcohesionwhichbenefitsindividualhealthandthehealthof the community. Social support buffers people from negativepsychological effect of stress and studies have shown that socialsupportimprovesfetalgrowth,produceshealthierbabies,andlowersratesofsuicide(HDMT).Spiritualandreligiousorganizationspromotephilanthropyandvolunteerism,encourageindividualstodonate,andactascharitableorganizationsthemselves(Putnam,2000).Livingwithinwalkingdistanceofneighborhoodgoodsandservicessuchasbanks,grocery stores and post offices promotes physical activity, reducesmotor vehicle use and promotes social interaction, cohesion andneighborhoodsafety(Moore,2007).TheU.S.GreenBuildingCouncilhasshownthat,“mixeduseenvironments”witheasywalkingdistanceto shops and services increasedwalking and biking activities.Morephysicalactivities improvehealth for individualsandthecommunity

Background

� Accessibility & Livability in Southwest Portland

(HDMT),(U.S.GreenBuildingcouncil,2010). Trees not only produce shade and protect people from UVradiation and skin cancer, but they provide natural cooling whichreduces energy demand and consumption. Trees also capture airpollution, reduce carbon dioxide while producing oxygen, and helpcapture water run-off. Trees can buffer traffic, reducing pedestrianinjuriesandimproveadultrecoveryofmentalfatiguewhichreducessociallyunacceptablebehaviorandcrime(HDMT). Physical assaults, sexual assaults, and homicides are directadverse health outcomes for a community, but witnessing andexperiencing violence in the community can cause long termbehavioralandemotionalproblems,especially inyouth(Perez-Smithet al., 2001), (Ozer&McDonald, 2006). A large-scale study of over600,000residents inSwedenshowedtherateofviolentcrime inanindividual’sneighborhoodpredictedtheriskforcoronaryheartdiseaseregardlessofdemographicandsocioeconomicmeasures(Sundquistetal.,2006).Anotherstudyranking65Baltimoreneighborhoodsonthe

Neighborhood Psychosocial Hazards Scale which combines socialdisorganization, public safety, physical disorder, and economicdeprivation showed thatwhen linkedwithhealthdata for a sampleof residents, regardless of age, gender, race, education, smoking ormedicalhistory,residentsinthemorehazardousareasweremorelikelytohaveaheartattack(Augustinetal.,2008).Anotherstudyshowedthatmorehazardousareasincreasedtherateofobesity(Glassetal.,2006). The demographics for the elementary schools in the area,including Capitol Hill, Hayhurst, Maplewood, Markham, Rieke, andStephenson Elementary, show that Markham has the most EnglishasSecondLanguagestudents (ESL)by far,butmore importantly thechildren that qualify for free or reduced lunch is a remarkable 59percentofthestudents.Markhamisalsothemostdiverseofalltheseschoolswith45percentotherthanwhitestudents.Capitol,Hayhurst,andMaplewoodElementaryschoolsallhaveabout25percentfreeorreducedlunchstudentsbuthavefarlessminoritystudents(figures2-7).

Background

Accessibility & Livability in Southwest Portland �

Background


Figure 2. Capitol Hill Elementary School Demographics

3% 4%

9% 1%

74%

7%

2%

Hayhurst (K-8)

Asian

African American

Hispanic

Native American

White

Multiple Races

Unspecified

26%

74%

Hayhurst (K-8)

Free or Reduced Lunch

Regular Price

3%

97%

Hayhurst (K-8)

ESL Students

Non-ESL Students

24%

76%

Maplewood (K-5)


Regular Price

3%

97%

Maplewood (K-5)


Regular Price

4%5%

11%1%

75%

3% 1%

Capitol Hill (K-5)

Asian

African American

Hispanic

Native American

White

Multiple Races

Unspecified

25%

75%

Capitol Hill (K-5)


Regular Price

9%

91%

Capitol Hill (K-5)

ESL Students

Non-ESL Students

25%

75%

Capitol Hill (K-5)


Regular Price

4%5%

11%1%

75%

3% 1%

Capitol Hill (K-5)

Asian

African American

Hispanic

Native American

White

Multiple Races

Unspecified

9%

91%

Capitol Hill (K-5)

ESL Students

Non-ESL Students

(Source: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/profiles/enrollment/)

Figure 3. Hayhurst Elementary School Demographics

Figure 4. Maplewood Elementary School Demographics

1% 2%

7%0%

83%

7%

0%

Maplewood (K-5)

Asian

African American

Hispanic

Native American

White

Multiple Races

Unspecified

Background


5%

19%

14%

0%

55%

3%

4%

Markham (K-5)

Asian

African American

Hispanic

Native American

White

Multiple Races

Unspecified

59%

41%

Markham (K-5)


Regular Price

25%

75%

Markham (K-5)

ESL Students

Non-ESL Students

8%

2% 4%

0%

83%

3% -1%

Rieke (K-5)

Asian

African American

Hispanic

Native American

White

Multiple Races

Unspecified

14%

86%

Rieke (K-5)


Regular Price

3%

97%

Rieke (K-5)


Regular Price

7%1%

5%2%

78%

5%

2%

Stephenson (K-5)

Asian

African American

Hispanic

Native American

White

Multiple Races

Unspecified

9%

91%

Stephenson (K-5)


Regular Price

4%

96%

Stephenson (K-5)

ESL Students

Non-ESL Students

Figure 5. Markham Elementary School Demographics

25%

75%

Capitol Hill (K-5)


Regular Price

4%5%

11%1%

75%

3% 1%

Capitol Hill (K-5)

Asian

African American

Hispanic

Native American

White

Multiple Races

Unspecified

9%

91%

Capitol Hill (K-5)

ESL Students

Non-ESL Students

(Source: http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools-c/profiles/enrollment/)

Figure 6. Rieke Elementary School Demographics

Figure 7. Stephenson Elementary School Demographics

Data Collection and Mapping DataregardingtheHDMTgoalswasobtainedfromanumberof sources. Information about commercial and community assets(including grocery stores, clothing stores and other retail services,banks, religious institutionsandrecreationandculturalcenters)wasobtainedfromthebusinessdatabaseReferenceUSA.Metro’sRegionalLand Information System (RLIS) was used to obtain data aboutneighborhoodinfrastructure,suchasstreets,sidewalks,publictransit,andpublic services suchas schools,parks,andhospitals.These twoprimary data sourceswere supplemented information from specificsourcesthat included informationrelevanttoHDMTgoals,butwerenot included in our primary data sources. For example, farmer’smarket locations were obtained from the official Portland Farmer’sMarketorganizationandbusfrequencydatawasobtainedfromTriMetschedules. A variety of sites in Southwest Portland were visited in

ordertoverifythedatacollectedandprovideamorequalitativesenseofthearea.Photographsandvideoweretakentobettercommunicatetheexperienceofthepedestrianenvironmentinthearea. Dataorganization,presentation,andanalysiswereperformedusingArcGIS,ageographicinformationsystem.Networkanalysiswasperformedtoidentifyareaswithinwalkingdistanceofclientresidencesalong the existing street network, which allowed quantification ofthe assets thatNeighborhoodHouse clients have pedestrian accessto.Walking distancewas defined as one quartermile. The analysisperformed did not distinguish between streets with and withoutsidewalks, and does not provide information about the qualitativeexperienceofaccessingtheresourcesidentified.

Google Earth Datawastakenoftheentireregionofseveralsetsofzipcodesandallof thevariableswerenarrowed(i.e.,housing,grocery,parks,schools,etc.)downtoasmaller,moreconcentratedareathatbecamethefocus.Fromalloftheresidencesthatwerespeckledalloverthemaps, the neighborhoods were grouped so that these residenceswereconcentrated.Ifthereweremorethantworesidencesthatwereapproximately three-fourths of amile apart theywere labeled as acluster. In the end, nine clusterswere labeled as our primary focusandservicesintheareawerelocatedandlabeledthatthesehousingclusterscouldpotentiallyuse.Theseserviceswerechosenbecauseoftheirproximityoflessthanfivemilesfromtheresidentialclusters.Thefinding of our narrowed housing and services relationshipwas thattherewasaminimalamountofservicesfortheseresidentspossiblybecause of the given topographical terrain. Also, it was gauged asminimal in relationship toamorepopulatedandmore levelareaaslowerSoutheastPortland.

Methods


To obtain a more hands-on understanding of the area andabsorbmore qualitative information, various locationswere visited:Mosques, clothing stores, supermarkets, and parks. Inquiries weremadeaboutthenatureoffoodandclothingsoldatcertainstorestodetermineifthemerchandiseappropriatelyservedourcommunity.In

thefield,photographsandvideoweretaken,capturingthepedestrian’sviewofstreets,sidewalks,andparks.ThisinformationwasuploadedintoaGoogleEarthformatshowingspecificpointlocationswherethephotographsandvideoweretaken.

Crime AgeneralunderstandingofcrimepatternsintheneighborhoodwasgarneredfromCrimeMapperswhichgavestatisticsandmapsof

crimeinthearea.TriMet’swebsiteprovidedinformationaboutroutesandtheir frequencyofservicewhichwastransformedintoamap inArcGIS. This programwas also used to display buffer zones aroundclientclustersshowingcommonserviceswithinacertainrangesuchastransit,schools,andparks.

Air Quality Airqualitythroughouttheregionwasalsomappedusingdatafrom thePSUGeographydepartment.Theairquality imageused inthesemaps was derived from the “Traffic Volume and Air Quality”mappublishedintheWinter,2009editionofMetroscape,in“SpatialPatternsofAirToxinsintheRegion”byLindaGeorge,Ph.D.andVivekShandas,Ph.D.Thetrafficvolumeandairqualityindexwasdevelopedby Linda George, Associate Professor of Environmental Science atPortlandStateUniversity, andVivekShandas,AssociateProfessorofUrbanStudiesandPlanningatPortlandStateUniversity.

Methods


Busy Roadways-HDMT Goal 1 Many of the residents in this study live on or near busyroadways. 85outof 139 clients arewithin closeproximity tomajorarterial roadways.This gives themaccess topublic transit andmaintransitcorridorsbutleavesthemsusceptibletohighernoiseandtrafficlevels associated with designated truck routes, freeways, and largethoroughfares.Theselargerroadways,thelackofsidewalks,thelowerconnectivityof streets, and the topography contribute to this area’slowerwalkabilityandsubsistenceonautomobilesandpublictransit.Allresidentsarewithinwalkingdistancetosidewalksandbicyclelanesbutdothesidewalksandbicyclelanescontinuetotheplacestheyneedtogo?SidewalksinSouthwestPortlandarehitandmiss;wherenoteventhe size of roador density of traffic corresponds towhere they arefoundandsidewalksappearanddisappearasonewalksdownthemdependingonthewidthofavailableroadway,nearnessofbuildingstothestreet,orperhapssimplymereaesthetics.

Public Transportation- HDMT Goal 2 Duringweekdaypeakhours91percenthavewalkingaccessto bus lines but frequency of service is another issue with publictransportation. High frequency service has been defined as servicethatisprovidedat15minuteintervalswhilemoderateservicecomesona30minutebasisandlowfrequencyisroughlyeveryhour.Accessto high frequency service duringweekday peak hours is 56 percentwhile 70 percent have moderate frequency access and 13 percenthaveaccesstolowfrequencyservice.Though84percentofthehomesinourstudyhaveaccessduringweekdaypeakhours,duringweekdayeveningsnoneofthesefamilieshaveaccesstohighfrequencyservice,moderateserviceisavailableto79percentofthehomesand16percentofhomesinourstudyhavenoaccesswithinwalkingdistanceduring

non-peakhours.Overall,transitisrelativelyaccessiblewith89percentofthehomesinourstudyarewithinwalkingdistanceofabusstop.

Access to Nutritious Foods-HDMT Goal 4 AstheHealthyDevelopmentMeasurementToolstatesaccesstohealthy foodchoicesdirectly relates toobesityanddiabetes.TheSomalipeoplewhomakeupthemajorityofthisstudyareparticularlysusceptible to these health problems having only recently beingintroducedtoprocessedfoodsandtheneedtoregulatecarbohydrateintake.Havingaccesstohealthyfoodsespeciallyfruitsandvegetablespredicts a reduced prevalence of obesity and therefore diabetesandotherassociateddiseasessuchasheartdisease.Ourstudyareaencompassestwofarmer’smarkets,18grocerystoresincludingthosethatare full serviceandaccept theOregonTrailCard,7CommunitySupportedAgriculturedropsites(CSA)and3Halalmarkets.Yetonly6familiesoutof139werewithinwalkingdistanceofafarmer’smarket.

Results


FamilieswithinwalkingdistancetoaCSAdropsiteisonly3percent.Fullservicegrocerystoreswereaccessibleto20percentandanother20percentwerewithinrangeofastorethatacceptstheOregonTrailCard.Only9percentarewithinwalkingdistanceofHalalmarkets inthearea.

Access to Medical Facilities-HDMT Goal 3 There are five hospitals within our mapping area, 30 OHPpediatriciansand15pharmacies.Notone familyofourstudygrouplivedwithinwalkingdistancetoahospital.30ofour139clientslivedwithinwalkingdistance toat leastoneof the30OHPphysicianbutonly8outof139livenearapharmacy.DuringpeakcommutinghoursdirectandfrequentbusserviceexiststomedicalfacilitiesonMarkhamHill.

Access to Cultural Assets-HDMT Goals 3 & 5 Just as access to parks and recreational facilities fosterphysicalactivityandhealthierliving,librariesandotherculturalassetsimprovesliteracy,communitycohesion,andpromotesart,educationalcollaborations, and cultural activities while giving access to healthinformationforhealthprovidersandthegeneralpublic.InourstudyareainSouthwestPortlandwehavemappedmanyparks,120schools,47 recreational centers, eight libraries, and three Islamic religiouscenters.Withsomanyparks it isnotsurprisingabout90percentofthe clients arewithinwalkingdistance tooneormoreof thesebutonly45percentlivecloseenoughtoaschoolandonly13percentlivein proximity to a library.Only 11percent livewithin thedesignatedquarter-mileradiusofotherrecreationalandculturalcenters.

Additional Services-HDMT Goal 3

Thereare69banks,67child-carefacilities,63employmentagencies,and6postoffices.Theplethoraofchild-carefacilitiesallows33percentofthestudygrouptoaccesstheirservicesbywalkingand15percentare that close to employment resources. Yet less than five percenthavepedestrianaccesstobanks,laundromats,andonlyonefamilycanaccessapostofficewithoutaccesstosomeformoftransportation.

Islamic Religious Centers Forrecentlydisplacerefugees,suchastheSomalipopulationserved by Neighborhood House, having access to religious centersbecomes evenmore important. In the case of the Somali refugees,accessing community IslamicReligiousCentersallows for somethingfamiliar,encouragescopingwithnewsituations,andprovidessupport(HDMT). As illustrated by the map, the clients who reside aroundBarburBoulevardareable to access aplaceofworship fairly easily.Howeveraccess for thosewho livenearBeavertonHillsdale ispoor,

Results


makingadjustingtotheirnewlifemuchmoredifficult. (AppendixA:figures29and30)

Air Quality Airquality isdirectlyproportional to trafficvolume,with themostpollutedair locatedaroundthemajorfreeways.Coincidentally,this area is alsowhere themajority of the clients ofNeighborhoodHouselive,whichisconcerningbecausethepollutantsdispersedfromhightrafficvolumedramaticallyincreasetheincidencesofchildhoodasthmaandincreasedcancerrates.Theclientsmustexchangecleanerairforbetteraccesstothegoodsandservicestheyneed.Healthissuescanbedifficultforanyfamilytocopewith,butbecausetheclientsofNeighborhoodHousehavesofewresources,takingthepropermedicalpersuasionsbecomesevenmoredifficultandhighlightstheneedforbetteraccesstohospitals.

Results


VERMONT HILLSSITE

Bus Lines

Traffic Volume and Air Quality Index(George & Shandas)

Sidewalks

NH Headstart Families The colored overlay included in this map shows the extent to whichair quality is affected by freeway traffic volume.Those areas in red,orange, and yellow show a strong connection between poor airquality and traffic. Note: this air quality index was developed byLinda George, Ph.D. and Vivek Shandas, Ph.D. at Portland StateUniversity.Source: Vivek Shandas, 2009

Neighborhood House Head Start Families, Bus Lines,Sidewalks, and Air Quality

Figure 8. Map of Air Quality in Target Area

Crime For the clients ofNeighborhoodHouse, ther is high concernovercrimeintheircommunity,especiallywhenparentsmustrelyonpublic transit for the transportation of their children. According toCrimeMapper,theprevalenceofcrimeintheSouthwestneighborhoodsfor the last year is low: only one report of simple assault occuredwithinahalfmileradiusofMarshallPark,locatedat10538SW11thDrive.Furthermore,thisincidencewastheonlyreportofviolentcrimeinthatarea,whichisnotthecaseinotherneighborhoodsinPortland.Forexample,anaffluentneighborhoodinNorthwestPortland,locatedat12680NWCreeksideDrive,reportedoneaggravatedassault,threesimple assaults, and one offense against a family. Although violentcrimeinSouthwestPortlandislow,residenceshouldbevigilantwhenitcomestoprotectingvaluablesintheircars.InthesametimeperiodthatMarshallParksawonlyonesimpleassault, therewerealso tenreportsoftheftfromauto.

Results


Figure 9. Map of the Total Crime in Portland, OR(Source: http://www.portlandmaps.com/maps/police/)

Figure 10. Map of the Total Crime in the Target Area(Source: http://www.portlandmaps.com/maps/police/)

Access to Bus Service Highfrequencyserviceisdefinedasprovidedevery15minutesorbetter.Moderateserviceisevery30minutesorbetter.Lowfrequencyisroughlyonceanhour.Peakservice isduringmorningandeveningcommutes.Roughly70percentoftheclientshaveatleastmoderatewalkingaccesstobusserviceduringweekdaypeaktraffic. Transit service and access ismixed in the study area.Duringweekdayrushhours,muchof thestudyareahasaccess to frequentservicebus routes suchas lines12,44,54,56,and78.Also,duringrushhours, thereareexpress routes. Line94provides frequentandexpressservicealongBarburBoulevardtodowntownPortlandandLine65providesdirectaccess fromBarburBoulevardandBarburTransitCentertothehealthservicesavailableonMarkhamHill.Finally,duringrushhours,thereexistneighborhoodfeederroutessuchaslines1,38,43,and45.Thisservicedevolvessomewhatduringweekdayeveningsandweekends.Theexpressandneighborhood feeder routesdonotoperateinthesetimeframes.Someofthefrequentservicebusroutesoperateatlesserfrequencies.Beyondfrequency,therearelimitationstouseandaccessoftransitinthestudyarea.Muchoftheneighborhoodfeederroutesoperateonstreetsthatonlyoccasionallyhavesidewalks.Consequently,many of the bus stops on these streets do not haveshelters.

Results

1� Accessibility & Livability in Southwest Portland

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High Frequency Moderate Frequency Low Frequency No Service

Figure 11. Clients within One-quarter Mile of Bus Lines

Figure 12. Frequency of Bus Lines

Transportation Routes Allresidentsarewithinwalkingdistancetosidewalksandbikelanes.60percentofthehomeshaveaccesstomajorarterials,includingScholl’sFerryandBeaverton-HillsdaleHighway.89percentofhomesarewithinwalkingdistanceofbusstops,whichiscoveredfurtherbe-low.

Results

Accessibility & Livability in Southwest Portland 1�

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Figure 14. Map of Access to Transportation RoutesFigure 13. Clients within One-quarter Mile of Transportation Routes

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Major Arterials Bike Routes Bus Stops

Access to Transportation


Results


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Bus Lines - Weekday Off Peak HoursLow FrequencyModerate FrequencyNo ServiceBike Routes

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Figure 15. Bus Line Frequency During Weekday Peak Hours Figure 16. Bus Line Frequency During Weekday Off-Peak Hours

Results


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Bus Lines - SundayHigh FrequencyLow FrequencyModerate FrequencyNo ServiceBike Routes


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Figure 17. Bus Line Frequency During Saturday Figure 18. Bus Line Frequency During Sunday

Medical Facilities FormedicalfacilitiesintheSW,wemapped5hospitals,30OHPpediatricians,and15pharmacies.Noneoftheclientslivewithinwalk-ingdistanceofahospital,makingpublictransitessentialforthepeopleofSouthwestPortlandconcerningaccesstoemergencycare.However,accordingtoTriMet’sTripPlanner,travelingtoOHSUfromanaverageclient addressmid-morning takes48minuteson theTriMet system.About22percentclientslivewithinwalkingdistanceofanOHPphysi-cian,andjustunder6percentlivewithinwalkingdistancetoaphar-macy.Althoughthesenumbersarelow,themapillustratesthecentrallocationsofbothphysiciansandpharmacieswith respect to thecli-ents.Theaveragetriptimeforaremoteclientis36minutes,andtheaveragetimeforthosewholivecloserintotownis11minutes.

Results


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Access to Medical Facilities


Figure 19. Map of Access to Medical Services Figure 20. Clients within One-quarter Mile of Medical Services

Access to Nutritious Food Fornutritiousfoodsintheneighborhood,twofarmer’smarketsweremapped;18full-servicegrocerystores,thatexceptOregonTrailCard; there are sevenCommunity SupportedAgriculture (CSA)dropsites;andthreehalalmarkets.Theresultsshowedthatveryfewclients,about4percent,arewithinwalkingdistance(quarter-mileradius)toafarmer’smarket.Only3percentarewithinwalkingdistanceofaCSApick-upsite.Oftheclients,19percentlivewithinwalkingdistanceoffull-service grocery stores that accept theOregonTrail Card.Only 8percentofclientslivewithinwalkingdistanceofahalalmarket.

Results


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Fresh Produce Accessibility

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Figure 22. Map of Access to Nutritious FoodFigure 21. Clients within One-quarter Mile of Nutritious Food

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Farmer's Markets

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OTC Grocery Halal Grocery

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Cultural Assets For cultural assets, parks, schools, libraries, Islamic religiouscenters,andrecreationalcentersinthestudyareaweremapped.Outofthe139clients,90percentlivewithinwalkingdistanceofparks,45percentarecloseenoughtoschools,and13percentlivewithinaquar-termileofalibrary.Twenty-threepercentofclientslivewithinwalkingdistancetoareligious institutionand11percent live inquarter-mileproximity to recreational and cultural centers. The large number ofparksandschoolsinthearearesultinhighlevelsofaccess,whileac-cesstolibraries,recreational,andculturalassetsarequitelow.

Results


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XW Recreation!P Neighborhood House sites

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Figure 24. Clients within One-quarter Mile of Cultural AssetsFigure 23. Map of Access to Cultural Assets

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Institutions

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Opportunities

Access to Cultural Assets



Additional Services Additionalservicesintheareainclude69banks,3laundromats,67 childcare facilities, 6 post offices and 63 employment offices.Ofthe6postofficesmapped inthearea,only1family is inwalkingdistance. Three homes havewalking access to Laundromats and sixarenearenoughtobankstowalk.TherearemanychildcarefacilitiesinSouthwestPortland,so46 families,outof139arewithinwalkingaccessof day careof one formor another. Twentyone families areclosetoemploymentresourcesaswell.

Results


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Additonal Ser vi ces�

" Post Offices" Banks% Childcare

X Employment Resources# Laundromats


SidewalkParks

Figure 26. Map of Access to Additional Services

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Post Office Employment Resources

Laundromat Childcare Banks

Access to Additional Services


Figure 25. Clients within One-quarter of Additional Services

Implications and Recommendations Southwest Portland has many attractive qualities associatedwithit.WehavefoundthatpettycrimeisrelativelylowcomparedwiththerestofPortland,andevenviolentcrimeshavelittlebearingonthedaytodaylivesofmostresidents.Thereareaplethoraoflush,clean,andwell-maintainedcityparkswithinahalfmileofnearlyallofhomes.These parks provide for natural green space, recreational activities,communitygathering,andhelptocombatpollution.TheareaissuitablyservedbyTriMet,whoprovidesamplepeakhourpublictransportation.Thebusroutesarewellcoordinatedandallowpeopletomakeregulartripstogrocerystores,thefarmersmarkets,orevenlocalstripmall.Publictransportationinthisregiongivesresidentsoptionsfortravel,ultimatelyreducingtrafficcongestionandgreenhousegasemissions.EvenamidstallofthesegreatattributesthatSouthwestPortlandhasgoingforit,therearestillmanyareasinwhichitcouldbeimprovedtobenefitthecommunityinitsentirety. TheCityofPortlandhasproducedagradientmapwhichclearlydelineatestheaccessibilityissuesofneighborhoodresidents.Themapwasoriginallycreatedtohelpcityplannersfigureoutwheretodirectfundsdesignatedtohelpneighborhoodsdevelopwalkablecommunitiesotherwise knownas20-minuteneighborhoods.Upon reviewing thismap it becomes immediately evident that the Southwest region ofPortlandislaggingbehindtheothersectorsofthecity;thesefindingsarecongruentwithourteam’soverallfindings. ThisareaofPortlandwassimplynotdesignedwithpedestriansinmind.Inlargepart,thisinaccessibilityisduetohowcarfriendlytheneighborhoods are. Four lane boulevards, increased speed limits inresidential neighborhoods, and uncontrolled intersections; coupledwithahillyrollingterrain,anddisappearingsidewalksmakesouthwestanutternightmareforparentswithchildrentowalk.Alloftheincreased

trafficleadstomuchlowerair-quality,streetpollution,andincreasedtrafficaccidents.Thesefactorsofcoursecontributetoacyclicalpatternleadingtoevenmoretrafficandincreasedproblems. Perhaps serving as the backbone for the infrastructure ofSouthwest Portland is the neighborhood association. SouthwestNeighborhoods, Inc. represents sixteen neighborhoods and threebusinessassociations.Thisdedicatedgroupofindividualsmeetsonaregularbasistodiscusscrime,transportation,safety,parks,andahostofotheritemsthatservetoimprovethecommunity. Inthemeetingminutes from their July2010 session, theboarddiscussedat lengthhowandwheretoputinsidewalks,easements,andincreaseshoulderwidths onmajor arterials.Unfortunately it is also clear that no realdirectionhasbeenformed. As Portland begins to implement its various long termplanninggoals, theSouthwestNeighborhoodassociationcouldhavea very positive impact for the people it represents. The communityinfrastructurecanbegreatlyenrichedbyutilizingFederalHouseBill2001,whichprovides$16millionforsidewalksonPortlandarterials,halfofwhichwillbespentonthewestside.AdditionalmoneyfromafederalstimuluspackagewasusedfortherepairsonBarburthatbydefinitionhadtobeeasier,ready-to-doprojectsthatcouldboosttheeconomy(SWNI,2010).But thisnew influxofmoneycouldbeusedto build new sidewalks which would most benefit the communityas a whole. Sidewalks can connect the community’s vast array ofpositiveattributesandcreateagreener,healthier,andmorevibrantneighborhood.SidewalkscouldconnectthispartofSouthwestPortlandtotherestofthecitybothliterallyandfigurativelybylinkingexistingsidewalkswherenoneexistandbringingtheideaofsaferoutesandthetwenty-minuteneighborhoodintoaneighborhoodthatofferssomuchelseindiversity,recreation,andopenspaces.

Discussion


Appendix A


n

n

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MarkhamElementary

Islamic Schoolof Portland

I5

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53RD

52N

D

48TH

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VALONA

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Neighborhood House Clients5 Foot CountoursBike RoutesSidewalkMajor Arterials

ParksQuarter Mile Walking Distance

Figure 27. Map of Area Surrounding Markham Elementary School

n

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nBARBUR

Capitol HillElementary

St. ClareSchool

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17TH

BARBUR

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Neighborhood House Clients5 Foot CountoursBike RoutesSidewalkMajor ArterialsParksQuarter Mile Walking Distance

Figure 28. Map of Area Surrounding Capitol Hill Elementary School

2� Accessibility & Livability in Southwest Portland

Appendix A

Figure 29. Map of Access to Religious Institutions

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Figure 30. Map of Access to Islamic Religious Institutions

Appendix A

Accessibility & Livability in Southwest Portland 2�

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% ChildcareNeighborhood House Clients


Appendix A


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Miles

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Laundromats

# LaundromatsNeighborhood House Clients


Figure 34. Map of Access to Laundromats

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Banks

" BanksNeighborhood House Clients


Figure 33. Map of Access to Banks

Appendix B


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accessibility and livability in southwest portland

Documents

downtown portland

founding members

availability of resources

meg merrickteam members

services towashington

idaandzerlina loewenberg

thec demographics

accessibility livability