Program Overview
The Healthy Homes Asthma program strives to ensure a healthy, asthma-friendly home for all. If you or a loved one is struggling with poor indoor air quality or other conditions that have triggered or worsened asthma, check out the eligibility requirements to see if you qualify for home improvements from our fully-funded Healthy Homes Asthma Program.
The interventions taken may include:
- Repairing leaking roofs, windows, and downspouts
- Installing kitchen and bathroom exhausts
- Sealing water and pest infiltration points
- Repairing general safety hazards, such as damaged stairs, GFCI outlets, and CO detectors.
Additional components of our intervention program include community and household education, technical assistance and workforce development.
Are you interested in enrolling in our program?
The Healthy Homes Asthma program strives to provide services that ensure a healthy, asthma-free home for all. If you or a loved one is struggling with poor indoor air quality, lead or radon contamination, or other events that have triggered or worsened asthma, click below to see if you qualify for our fully-funded Asthma Program and services.
Do You Qualify for the Program?
- Are you a renter or homeowner in Allegheny County?
- Is there someone with asthma living in your home?
- Does your household’s annual income (pre-tax) fall within these limits?
- Are there children living in the home?
If you live in the county and meet income requirements, fill out our eligibility form and a staff member will reach out with more information. Homes with children and those with asthma are prioritized.
# of People in Household |
Maximum Income |
|---|---|
|
1 |
$56,700 |
|
2 |
$64,800
|
|
3 |
$72,900
|
|
4 |
$80,950
|
|
5 |
$87,450
|
|
6 |
$93,950
|
|
7 |
$100,400
|
|
8 |
$106,900
|
Across Allegheny County, the number of people who struggle with asthma and have asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations is higher than the national average and disproportionately impacts children of color.
How does housing impact asthma?
Asthma can lead to poor health, reduced quality of life, and premature death when it is not monitored or mitigated. In the home, many potential hazards and irritants cause the inflammation that creates the conditions for asthma attacks. Hazards such as mold, moisture, poor ventilation and temperature regulation, pests, dust, and other known respiratory irritants are linked to asthma. Addressing these within the home can improve health and quality of life for all – not just people with asthma.
The National Center for Healthy Housing has developed helpful guiding principles to describe the critical components of a healthy home – all of which are essential to ensure an asthma-free home, as well.
According to the National Center for Healthy Housing, Healthy Homes Are:
- DRY: Damp homes provide a nurturing environment for mites, roaches, rodents and molds. All are associated with triggering asthma.
- CLEAN: Keeping a home clean and clutter-free will help reduce pest infestations and exposure to environmental contaminants.
- VENTILATED: Studies show increasing the flow of fresh air supply throughout the home improves respiratory health.
- THERMAL CONTROLLED: When adequate temperature control is not maintained, prolonged exposure to excessive heat or cold can increase health risks.
- PEST-FREE: Studies show a causal relationship between exposure to mice and cockroaches and asthma episodes in children. Pesticide residues from home treatments pose risks for neurological damage, cancer and other health issues.
- MAINTAINED: Poorly maintained homes are at risk for moisture and pest problems. Deteriorated lead-based paint in older housing is the primary cause of lead poisoning, affecting some 535,000 U.S. children annually.
- SAFE: The majority of injuries among children occur in the home. Falls are the most frequent cause of residential injuries to children, followed by injuries from objects in the home, burns and poisonings.
- CONTAMINANT-FREE: Keep your home contaminant-free. Chemical exposures to asbestos particles, lead, radon gas, carbon monoxide, pesticides, VOCs, PFAS and secondhand tobacco smoke are far higher indoors than outside.
- ACCESSIBLE:Accessibility modifications are often necessary in order for occupants to move safely into homes. Lack of accessibility in and around the home can result in reduced physical activity, injury, isolation and poor mental health. Every new home should be designed to improve accessibility for all occupants, regardless of age, ability or mobility challenges.
- AFFORDABLE: When more than 30% of income is spent on housing, households are considered cost burdened. If more than 50% of income is spent on housing, households are deemed severely cost burdened. Substandard housing, overcrowding or homelessness can result from housing cost burdens and home instability for families facing difficulty paying rent or mortgage.
Support and Resources
Use the links below to receive information about asthma, allergies, and general lung health:
Other important resources for individuals, caregivers, and other support systems for those with asthma include:
- Asthma Action Plan – a plan that helps you and others recognize symptoms and the severity of your asthma. This will show what medicines and services you may need to feel better and avoid further exacerbation. This is a tool that all caregivers including teachers, coaches, babysitters, and parents can use to help take care of a child with asthma.
- American Lung Association Trainings – The American Lung Association offers trainings on asthma, indoor air quality, tobacco, and advocacy. If you wish to learn more about asthma, protecting lung health, or ways to support change that supports better health, please register for one of these trainings available on their website. You may also make recommendations for staff that are caring for your children in different environments to attend training to increase their ability to identify and respond to asthma attacks or a worsening condition.
- Asthma Control Assessment – Often individuals with asthma become used to having breathing difficulty, issues sleeping, and medicine use. This often makes individuals feel that their asthma is not as extreme as they think, this tool can help individuals determine the severity of their asthma and perhaps help individuals seek care if necessary.
Work with WHE
Are you a residential contractor who works in Allegheny County? Are you looking for new networks to connect you to additional jobs and trained staff as you grow?
We work with general contractors to complete HUD-funded home improvement projects under this program. We use a bidding process to assign jobs.
This program is funded by a Healthy Homes Production Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH).