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Healthy Homes

Landlords Must Do Better

In New York City, over two-thirds of New Yorkers rent their homes and the statistic is even higher among low-income residents. The lack of affordable housing options in New York City due to gentrification, particularly in Northern Manhattan, present severe challenges to finding high-quality housing without a rent burden on low and middle-income families. Low-quality housing stock means landlords do not always properly repair pre-existing housing deficiencies, such as cracks, mold, pests, and lead-based peeling paint within the home – all which can lead health disparities, including high rates of childhood asthma, lead exposure, or poisoning.

WE ACT defines a healthy home as:

A home that is marked not only by the absence of health and safety threats (lead, indoor allergens, radon, CO) in the built environment, but also one that supports physical, mental, social and environmental well-being. This definition includes aspects of the home including but not limited to energy efficiency, building materials that limit adverse health effects, free of chemicals and the creation of homes using equitable and fair labor practices.

Definition adopted from Annie E. Casey Foundation and the National Center for Healthy Housing

1 in 4

In some low-income areas of NYC, such as Harlem, the childhood asthma rate is 1 in 4, compared to 1 in 11 nationally.

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Asthma is Triggered by Environments

High rates of asthma and frequent asthma attacks cause emergency hospital visits, missed school or work days, and expensive medical bills. Major indoor causes and triggers for asthma that are preventable when landlords take action, include:

  • Moisture and mold, due to cracks or leaks
  • Pests, such as cockroaches, rats, and mice
  • Chemical irritants, such as cleaning supplies

WE ACT calls for holistic, evidenced-based policies that create and sustain healthy housing and indoor environments for all New York City residents, especially tenants living in substandard housing; and enforcement of laws so that landlords maintain healthy homes for all New Yorkers. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s website for a full list of triggers.

Lead-Based Paint and Lead Dust

Children of color are disproportionately exposed to lead inside the home. Asian children are the most at risk to at home lead exposure in NYC, as they represent 2x the exposure level compared to their relative population in the city. While lead was banned in homes in 1960, lead-based paint or lead dust are still all too common in housing stock built before 1980 and the worst cases exist in homes constructed before 1950. New York City’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act (2004) must be enforced to hold landlords accountable to lead-based paint and lead dust, which are linked to childhood lead poisoning and development problems.

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