June is National Healthy Homes Month

From Naugatuck Valley Health Department: National Healthy Homes Month (NHHM), created by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH), was established to focus national attention on ways to keep people of all ages safe and healthy in their home. It is aimed at boosting awareness and understanding of what federal and local resources are available to make homes healthier. This year’s overarching theme "Check Your Home; Protect Your Family", was chosen to create awareness of what it means to have a healthy home by educating families on the importance of assessing ones home for potential health hazards; and to empower people to make change in order to create the healthiest home possible for their family.

Currently, millions of U.S. homes have moderate to severe physical problems, including dilapidated structure; roofing problems; heating, plumbing, and electrical deficiencies; water leaks and intrusion; pests; damaged paint; and high levels of radon gas. These conditions are associated with a wide range of health issues, including unintentional injuries, respiratory illnesses (asthma and radon-induced lung cancer), and lead poisoning. The health and economic burdens from preventable hazards associated within homes are considerable, and cost billions of dollars annually.

The Naugatuck Valley Health District (NVHD) currently has a HUD supported project called Naugatuck Valley Emends Lead Hazards (NauVEL) to help homeowners and property owners remove lead paint and other risks from homes and properties. If your house was built before 1978, you may qualify for:

• Free inspections
• Plans for lead and home safety hazard removal
• Generous financial assistance to remediate hazards

For more information on the NauVEL Program and/or to find out if you qualify, apply online at www.nvhd.org/nauvel.

Additional information on making your home a Healthy Home is available at https://www.hud.gov/healthyhomes.

If your house was built before 1978, your children and tenants may be at risk for lead poisoning.

Elevated levels of lead in the blood can cause serious problems in children:

• Learning disabilities - Attention deficit disorder

• Hearing damage, speech, language, and behavior problems

• Poor muscle growth & coordination

• Other physical & psychological problems
• Have your child tested for an elevated blood lead level with a simple blood test. Children ages 9 months to 3 years should be tested once a year

Reduce your risk:

Lead Poisoning is 100% Preventable!!

• Have your pre-1978 home or rental property tested for the presence of lead-paint hazards

• Learn and always apply lead-safe work practices when repairing, renovating and cleaning your property

• Remember lead hazard reduction should only be performed by licensed contractors

Naugatuck Valley Health District’s NauVEL Program can help!

$$ Grants available to remove lead hazards from your home $$

Apply NOW to receive:

• Inspections and plans for lead and home safety hazard removal

• Financial assistance to remediate hazards

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