Over the last few months, I've heard many parents share their concerns about how to keep their homes clean and pest-free. This is especially true for parents of children with asthma or other chronic health conditions. They are nervous to have people come into their home to fix any issues, but they also know the longer their child is exposed to asthma or allergens, the more likely their child may need to go to the hospital. It is one of the biggest dilemmas many DC families are facing every day.
All parents want their children to be healthy. Yet the relationship between poor housing conditions and certain health problems such as asthma and lead poisoning is well-documented. We also know that one’s race often predict the potential for poor housing conditions that negatively influence their health.
The longer the public health crisis goes on, these inequities will widen and the risks on a child's health will increase.
That’s why Children’s Law Center, through our work with the DC Healthy Housing Collaborative, created a suite of videos and tip sheets in English and Spanish to help families take small steps to keep their children healthy while spending their time at home. For parents who do want repairs made, we developed additional materials to request their landlords prioritize the safety and health of their family before allowing maintenance staff to enter their apartment or home.
In the videos, Children’s Law Center family outreach worker, Kayla Brandon, walks viewers through two tutorials, one focused on keeping asthma under control and the other on how to keep mice and roaches away.
Click below to view one of the videos:
