Asthma-Free Housing Bill (385) Hearing

Why do we need asthma-free housing in NYC?

Nationally, about 1 in 11 children have asthma, but in many low-income areas of New York City, the childhood asthma rate is 1 in 4. Housing deficiencies, such as wall holes or cracks, and water leaks, predispose homes to infestations of cockroaches, rodents or mold, are common triggers for asthma attacks, which cause frequent hospital visits and absenteeism from school.

The Coalition for Asthma Free Housing is working to pass The Asthma-Free Housing Act (Intro 385), which prioritizes prevention and requires landlords to inspect and correct indoor allergen hazards.

The Asthma-Free Housing Act, 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.

We need your support at an upcoming hearing:

RSVP to join community members from across the city at a committee hearing on the Asthma Free Housing Act at City Hall. You will hear testimony from impacted residents and advocates.

Press Conference starts @ 9AM on City Hall Steps
Hearing begins @ 10AM inside City Hall

For details on the bill, visit: on.nyc.gov/2r0tNeW
For details on the Coalition for Asthma-Free Housing, visit: weact.org/cafh

#AsthmaFreeNYC, #Intro385, #MoldBillNYC

—

Members of the Coalition for Asthma-Free Housing include:

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East * American Lung Association in New York * Association of Legal Aid Attorneys – UAW 2325* American Thoracic Society (ATS) * Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America * CAAAV * CEH * Commission on the Public’s Health System (CPHS) * Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) SEIU * District Council 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO * Doctors Council SEIU * Fifth Avenue Committee/Comite de la Qunita Avenida * LiUNA Local 78 * Make the Road New York * Moms Clean Air Force * Neighbors Helping Neighbors * New York Lawyers for the Public Interest * New York State Academy of Family Physicians * New York State Nurses Association * Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC) * Public Health Association of New York City (PHANYC) * Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCC) * Stabilizing NYC * The Legal Aid Society* Urban Health Plan Inc. * Urban Justice Center * WE ACT for Environmental Justice