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Donald T. Ryan, MURP, Alliance for Healthy Homes, 227 Massachusetts Avenue, NE #200, Washington, DC 20002, 202-543-1147, dyan@afhh.org
All people deserve to live in housing that is decent, affordable, healthy, and safe. Achieving that goal requires changes in policies and programs to spur government agencies, businesses, landlords, and others to prevent and control hazards throughout the country’s housing. Our most vulnerable children face the greatest risks of health hazards in their homes. Low-income children are at an eight times higher risk of lead poisoning than children from upper-income families; African- American children are at a five times higher risk than white children. Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and health records show that African-American, Hispanic, and low-income children suffer higher rates of hospitalization, emergency room visits, and deaths from asthma. Now is the time to catalyze new strategies and solutions on health and housing. In addition to the latest research that increasingly documents the importance of housing condition as a determinant of health, there is action and interest in healthy homes at the local, state, and federal level. Throughout the country, community groups are working to prevent and correct housing-related health hazards, numerous state legislatures and health departments are grappling with mold and other health hazards, and there is growing interest in Congress to pursue national legislation on healthy homes. There is both the opportunity to build upon the change that is already beginning and the necessity to avoid policy making in a vacuum that could lock in unworkable approaches.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Environmental Health Hazards, Healthy Buildings
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.