Healthy Homes Program
The Healthy Homes Program (HHP) is part of HUD’s overall Healthy Homes Initiative launched in 1999. The program takes a comprehensive approach to addressing and focusing on housing-related hazards in a coordinated fashion, rather than addressing a single hazard at a time. The program builds upon HUD’s successful Lead Hazard Control programs to expand the Department’s efforts to address a variety of high-priority environmental health and safety hazards.
This program aims to improve the safety, affordability, and overall health of homes by implementing measures to reduce potential hazards such as toxic chemicals, asthma triggers, and other risks.
Through this program, AYUDA Inc. educates constituents and the community at large on how to maintain a healthy home by following the eight main principles of a healthy home.
Program objectives
Maximize both the number of vulnerable residents protected from housing-related environmental health and safety hazards and the number of housing units where these hazards are controlled
Identify and remediate housing-related health and safety hazards in privately owned, low-income owner-occupied housing, especially in units and/or buildings where families with children, older adults sixty-two (62) years and older, or families with persons with disabilities reside
Promote cost-effective and efficient healthy home methods and approaches that can be replicated and sustained
Support public education and outreach that furthers the goal of protecting children and other vulnerable populations from housing-related health and safety hazards
the eight principle of a healthy home
Keep It Dry
Prevent water from entering the home through leaks in roofing systems, prevent rainwater from entering the home due to poor drainage, and check interior plumbing for any leaking.
Keep It Clean
Control the source of dust and contaminants, by creating smooth and cleanable surfaces, reducing clutter and using effective wet-cleaning methods.
Keep It Pest-Free
All pests look for food, water, and shelter. Seal cracks and openings throughout the home; store food in pest-resistant containers. If needed, use sticky-traps and baits in closed containers, along with least-toxic pesticides such as boric acid powder.
Keep It Contaminant Free
Reduce lead-related hazards in pre-1978 homes by fixing deteriorated paint and keeping floors and window areas clean using a wet-cleaning approach. Test the home for radon, a naturally occurring dangerous gas that enters homes through soil, crawlspaces, and foundation cracks.
Keep It Safe
Store poisons out of the reach of children and properly label. Secure loose rugs and keep children’s play areas free from hard or sharp surfaces. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and keep fire extinguishers on hand.
Keep It Well Ventilated
Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens and use whole- house ventilation for supplying fresh air to reduce the concentration of contaminants in the home.
Keep It Well Maintaned
Inspect, clean, and repair the home routinely. Take care of minor repairs and problems before they become large repairs and problems.
Keep It Thermally Controled
Houses that do not maintain adequate temperatures may place the safety of residents at increased risk from exposure to extreme cold or heat.
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