Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) is kicking off the second annual National Healthy Homes Month (NHHM). Throughout the month, the goal is to raise awareness for what makes a home healthy and to strengthen coordination and collaboration between housing and health at the federal, state and local levels.
A healthy home is one that provides a safe and healthy environment protecting the occupants from disease and injury. Almost 6 million U.S. homes have moderate to severe physical infrastructure problems—such as water leaks and intrusion; injury hazards; pests; and heating, plumbing, and electrical deficiencies. In addition, OLHCHH estimates that approximately 30 million homes have indoor environmental hazards, including physical safety hazards, leadbased paint and pests. The OLHCHH has designated June as National Healthy Homes Month in order to create awareness around housing and its impact on health on the national and local level; to encourage organized, local community events; and to empower families to take action.
NHHM is designed to create awareness about and promote action around health and safety hazards in the home, and to empower families to learn how to create the healthiest home possible for their family. The month also highlights federal and local resources that are available to make a difference in the places where families live, play, and grow. “National Healthy Homes Month serves as an important educational call to action,” said Jon L. Gant, Director of HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. “Providing families with the resources they need to keep their homes safe from potential health hazards such as lead-based paint and pests helps them to create the healthiest home possible.”
The OLHCHH developed a 2017 National Healthy Homes Month Planning Guide which contains many resources and materials, to assist with building awareness and implementation at the local level. Visit their website for a copy.
Please visit www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/hhi to learn more about the National Healthy Homes Program.
This article is sourced from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
