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Updates from the
Rhode Island Alliance for Healthy Homes
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Healthy homes can create healthy families-and a healthy Rhode Island. Sadly, we saw this winter what kind of damage a failed system can do in Flint, Michigan. GHHI and its partners have offered expertise to help that community recover, but they have a long road ahead. A
recent article on lead poisonings in NJ and Flint, MI describes a cautionary tale and discussion of lead in RI. This issue of the RIAHH newsletter reviews several projects that target the healthy housing puzzle in Rhode Island. RIAHH exists in part to spread the word about this good work, in hopes that the larger healthy housing community will take action to support these initiatives.
-The RIAHH Steering Committee
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RIAHH Action Team Reports
POLICY TEAM:
Lead:
a small group is mapping out how lead poisoning programs currently operate in RI, and are planning an issue brief to help legislators and decision-makers understand RI's progress on lead poisoning prevention. We will build on work already being done by CLAP, the Providence Plan and HousingWorksRI of RWU. Healthy Homes and Medicaid: several Alliance partners met at Rhode Island Housing to develop a strategy for helping RI Medicaid provide better support for addressing barriers to healthy housing through provisions such as the Long Term Services and Support regulation (see below).
RESOURCES COORDINATION:
Resource:
working with GHHI, we are developing "My Green and Healthy Home" app for Rhode Islanders to learn more about and find resources to help address home health hazards.
Website: Thanks to a volunteer graphic design student from Johnson & Wayles we have
a close-to final draft of the RIAHH website, and hope to announce the launch date in the next issue.
DATA & EVALUATION:
a small group is supporting RI Kids Count's 2016 Fact Book by sharpening their research on healthy homes, lead, asthma, and other relevant healthy homes information for children in RI. This team is available for other data needs members might have, so be in touch with your requests.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:
Matt Banoub, chair of the RIAHH Workforce Team, is working on a BPI certification for healthy homes evaluators. Nothing has been announced yet, but stay tuned for what is likely to be a critical step in enabling more professionals to effectively execute healthy homes audits.
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2/10: Housing Initiatives in RI- presentation to the Congress on New Urbanism (Free). 5pm at the
Aurora.
2/29: Applications due for the 2nd Annual HUD Secretary's Awards for Healthy Homes.
More information.
3/14 (8a-2p) Housing For All Summit, hosted by United Way of RI.
The interactive, thought-provoking summit will feature expert guest speakers, Elizabeth Falcon, Director of Housing Advocacy for the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development, and Dr. Megan Sandel, Principal Investigator with Children's HealthWatch. Free, including breakfast and lunch. Register.
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Lead Renovator Remodeler Refresher Course
, offered by the RI Builders Association, will review lead hazard controls and regulation updates. Free for members w/$40 materials fee; $110 non-members. Dates: 2/22, 3/15; 7:30am-12:00pm. Contact Sheila McCarthy at 401.438.7400.
A 2-Day
Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners Course will be offered by Rhode Island Housing March 23-24 (8a-5p). For more information, contact
Darlene Price at 401.222.4892.
National Grid
offers many trainings each month. To see the complete listing, go online here.
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Several RIAHH partners are working on initiatives that will promote healthy housing in Rhode Island this year. Here is what we know about- please send any we missed to share in the next issue!
Affordable Housing Bond 2016: The Housing Network of Rhode Island will convene stakeholder groups this spring to encourage the RI Legislature to adopt a $100 million affordable housing bond. This investment leverages $400 million in other federal, state and private resources to finance the development or preservation of 2,000 affordable homes and support approximately 3,700 jobs. RI's contribution to affordable housing, $8.46 per capita, falls short compared to MA ($99.72) and CT ($76.98). A thoughtful and deliberate investment of this scale in affordable housing development is critical for family stability, neighborhood and community revitalization, and Rhode Island's overall economy. To get involved, contact
Melina Lodge at 401-721-5680x38.
Sankofa, an initiative of West Elmwood Housing, proudly announces the construction of Sankofa Apartments, 50 new units from 1 to 4 bedrooms as part of the unique Sankofa urban agricultural community growing in the West End. Residents will have access to community garden space and benefit from the diverse and healthy foods to be grown at Sankofa Community Farm, and sold at Sankofa World Market. Do you know a family who wants to live in this new healthy community? Contact First Realty Management, 230 Dexter Street 401-272-5638.
Rhode Island Medicaid is reviewing its regulatory code regarding long-term support services that take place in the home or community. On behalf of the RIAHH policy team, Betsy Stubblefield Loucks testified at the hearing and submitted written comments, which were also signed by GHHI and CLAP. Loucks emphasized the importance of additional structural interventions that make homes a safe and healthy option for this subset of the Medicaid population, which includes people who are elderly or chronically ill. Medicaid Director Anya Radar Wallack has already expressed interest in housing as a way to prevent the need for expensive medical care. The Alliance Policy team is working to figure out which components of Medicaid regulations are best positioned to support healthy homes interventions.
EnergizeR
I, a coalition taking action on climate change in RI, recently introduced the Energize RI Act, a plan to bring jobs and renewable, independent energy to Rhode Island. Sponsored by Rep. Aaron Regunberg (D, 04), the Act creates a Clean Energy and Jobs Fund to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency programs for Rhode Island families, businesses, and institutions; fund energy programs with a fair price on carbon, paid for by companies that sell fossil fuels in RI; and protect Rhode Islanders from costs being passed along by sending rebates to every household and business in the state. See their newsletter or join the campaign!
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Have information about healthy housing to share with the 500+ people in the RIAHH community in the next newsletter? Please email
Betsy Stubblefield Loucks.
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About the Rhode Island Alliance for Healthy Homes
The Rhode Island Alliance for Healthy Homes (RIAHH) coordinates the professional healthy housing community to align, braid and coordinate information, resources and services to improve the health, safety, and energy efficiency of all Rhode Island homes. In June of 2013, RIAHH formed as a merger between the Rhode Island Department of Health's Healthy Housing Collaborative, the Rhode Island Housing Resource Commission's Healthy Housing Work Group, and the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative's (GHHI®) Providence Steering Committee. Working at the macro level, RIAHH leads a professional discourse to better understand the negative affects of unhealthy housing, organize healthy housing information, data and networks to better understand and inform the healthy housing market, and develop cross-sector action plans and innovations that results in measurable positive impact.
The Rhode Island Alliance for Healthy Housing (RIAHH) is a collective impact initiative. Backbone coordination of RIAHH is brought to you by the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative® (GHHI). A national leader in the healthy homes movement, GHHI works to create, implement and advocate for effective solutions to make energy efficient, healthy and lead-safe homes for children, seniors and families. For more information about GHHI, please visit www.ghhi.org.
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