Healthy Homes Program
A “Healthy Home” is dry, clean, pest-free, safe, contaminant-free, well ventilated, and maintained.
1. Keep it dry: dampness provides a nurturing environment for mites, roaches, rodents, and molds (all of which are associated with asthma).
2. Keep it clean: clean homes reduce pest infestations and exposure to contaminants.
3. Keep it pest-free: exposure to mice and cockroaches exacerbate asthma symptoms and inappropriate treatment for pest infestations can cause health problems.
4. Keep it safe: falls are the most frequent cause of residential injuries to children, followed by injuries from objects in the home, burns and poisonings.
5. Keep it contaminant-free: chemical exposures to lead, radon, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and environmental tobacco smoke harm your health.
6. Keep it ventilated: increasing the fresh air supply in your home improves respiratory health.
7. Keep it 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.
“A Healthy Home is the best vaccine.”
MTO’s Healthy Homes program helps tenants learn about hidden/visible home health hazards, options to prevent exposure and vital resources for improving housing conditions. If you are a Chicago tenant and would like more information, OR if you are an organization who would like training in Healthy Homes, please email meg@tenants-rights.org or call 773-292-4980 ext 231. For suburban tenants and organizations please email mangelica@tenants-rights.org or call 773-292-4980 ext 227.
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Healthy Home Healthy Child: A Westside Children’s Asthma Partnership
