Coalition for Asthma Free Homes

Asthma is an environmental disease characterized by chronic lung inflammation and episodes of airway constriction. Nationally, about 1 in 11 children have asthma, but in some low-income areas of New York City, the childhood asthma rate is 1 in 4. Indoor health hazards directly contribute to the high asthma prevalence in NYC, and the average person spends 90% of their time indoors. Indoor levels of pollutants may be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor pollutant levels.

In 2016, WE ACT and members of the Coalition for Asthma Free Housing have created a prescription to address asthma and asthma disparities: healthy, affordable housing, called the Asthma-Free Housing Act.

The Asthma-Free Housing Act of 2016, Intro 385B, if passed, would:

• prioritize prevention measures in homes of susceptible persons – those with diagnosed asthma, COPD, or lung cancer;
• require landlords to inspect for Indoor Allergen Hazards and correct them and their causes using approved methods;
• require NYC Housing and Preservation Department (HPD) to inspect for Indoor Allergen Hazards and their causes, and issue appropriate violations;
• require HPD to correct violations for Indoor Allergen Hazards where Landlords fail to do so promptly;
  create a system for physician referrals for housing inspections by the City for patients with asthma; and
  codify safe and effective work practices for remediation of mold hazards.