FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/8/2021
Contact: Black Hawk County Health Department
Phone: 319-291-2413
publichealth@co.black-hawk.ia.us
JUNE IS NATIONAL HEALTHY HOMES MONTH
In the U.S.today, people spend close to 90% of their time indoors. National Healthy Homes Month (NHHM), created by HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control andHealthy Homes (OLHCHH), is an outreach campaign designed to help people connect the dots between their health and their home. This year’s overarching theme "The Power of Partnerships,” recognizes that the support of partners helps reach target audiences and broadens the range of techniques for educating communities, families, and individuals.
The Black Hawk County Health Department is pleased to partner with Waterloo Community Development on the Healthy Homes Program. This Waterloo-based program consists of a series of in-home assessments, focusing on 29-health hazards, as well as a lead assessment.The outcome of this assessment can lead to hazard mitigation and repairs within the home or rental property. Homeowners can call Waterloo Community Development at 319-291-4429 or go to their website to see if they qualify for a home assessment.
A healthy home is important to homeowners, renters, older persons, children, and others regardless of race, income, education, or social status. National Healthy Homes Month focuses on the importance of home assessments, and the impact awareness can have on your health; and to empower people to make change in order to create the healthiest home possible for themselves and their family. Residents are encouraged to do their own home healthy home assessment. Assessment guidelines can be found on the Black Hawk County Public Health website.
Currently, millions of U.S.homes have moderate to severe physical housing problems, including dilapidated structure; roofing problems; heating, plumbing, and electrical deficiencies;water leaks and intrusion; pests; damaged paint; and high radon gas levels.These conditions are associated with a wide range of health issues, including unintentional injuries, respiratory illnesses like asthma and radon-induced lung cancer, and lead poisoning. The health and economic burdens from preventable hazards associated within home are considerable, and cost billions of dollars.
National Healthy Homes Month (NHHM) focuses national attention on ways to keep people of all ages safe and healthy in their home. The goal is to boost awareness and understanding of what federal and local resources are available. Beginning June 9, Black Hawk County Public Health will be posting videos on YouTube and Facebook to provide residents with more information about what it means to have a healthy home, with tips on how to access services from the Healthy Homes program. For more information on the Healthy Homes program call Waterloo Community Development at 319-291-4429 or go to their website.
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