Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: April 25, 2008

HEALTH Releases First Healthy Housing Databook at Annual Conference, “Linking Partners to Healthy Housing”

On May 1, 2008, the Rhode Island Department of Health will host its annual lead and healthy housing conference at the Quidnessett Country Club in North Kingstown, RI.  This event will be an opportunity for professionals in the fields of health and housing to share ideas and best practices, build partnerships, and lay the foundation for future collaboration. 

During this conference, the Rhode Island Department of Health will release the first edition of the Healthy Housing Databook, which contains information about some of the environmental hazards in the home. For example, in 2007, 388 children under six years of age were newly lead poisoned. In Rhode Island, it is estimated that 19% of the households have a child or an adult with asthma, and most of them are likely exposed to asthma triggers in their homes.  Approximately one in four homes is found to contain radon levels above the action level of 4 picoCuries per liter in Rhode Island.

The association between health and housing is not a new concept. While a healthy house promotes well being, unhealthy housing can lead to poor health outcomes, such as asthma, lead poisoning, injuries, burns, respiratory infections, cancer, food insecurity and impacts on the neurological development of children that lead to decreased intellectual capacity. This new report also provides steps that the medical and housing communities can take to address healthy housing concerns, as well as steps that individuals can take to make their homes safer and healthier.  Topics covered in the report include asbestos, carbon monoxide, contaminated drinking water, lead, mold, radon, asthma and unintentional injuries.

The keynote speaker for this event is Patrick MacRoy, Executive Director of the Alliance for Healthy Homes.  Mr. MacRoy will talk about lessons learned from lead poisoning prevention and how we can expand our partnerships to promote healthy housing. Healthy Housing awards will also be presented to seventeen entities in recognition of their efforts in several projects that have promoted healthy housing in Rhode Island.

Copies of the Healthy Housing Databook can be requested by contacting Tammie Smith at tammie.smith@health.ri.gov. This report will also be available online on May 1, 2008 at www.health.ri.gov/healthyhousing/index.php.