Healthy Homes Program and Associated Benefits and Services Considering Public Health and the Housing Crisis

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1 City of Springfield Office of Housing An Overview of the Healthy Homes Program and Associated Benefits and Services Considering Public Health and the Housing Crisis Nigel D. Greaves, Senior Program Manager November 15 th, 2018

2 Healthy Homes Program The Honorable Dominic J. Sarno, Mayor Geraldine McCafferty, Director of Housing

3 Housing Crisis Plenty of affordable housing, but housing stock skews old o Several local & national Historic areas o Tornados of 2011 caused significant damage o Homeowners often lack access to capital needed for repairs Highly segregated, exacerbating longstanding and harmful patterns related to: o Education outcomes o Violence o Substance abuse o Public health 30% poverty rate translates to many low or very low households o Even with several subsidized assistance programs available Housing Study, City of Springfield, June 2018

4 What is a Healthy Home? The Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) whole-house strategy identifies 8 elements of a green and healthy home, helping families consume less energy, and create/maintain a home free of health and safety hazards. Dry Clean Safe Pest Free Well ventilated Contaminant free Well maintained Energy Efficient

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6 Healthy Homes Rehab Program Federally funded by HUD o Community Development Block Grant o National Disaster Resilience Focus on health & safety, and code compliance. o Lead paint abatement o Asthma triggers, such as mold & pests. o Energy Efficiency Many different types of repairs, including HVAC, roofing, electrical 0% interest, forgivable loan (5 or 10 years) o Over $100k in some cases

7 Healthy Homes Rehab Program Two Targeted Neighborhoods o Memorial Square (North End) and Six Corners (South side/historic District) o High incidences of elevated blood lead levels and high asthma rates Income limit of 80% AMI o First round allowed for 120% Relocation services available o Mandatory for renters

8 Emergency Home Repair Citywide focus Preventing Slips, trips and falls around areas such as stairs and porches Preventing water leaks that could lead to mold growth, from pipes of roofing. o 80% of these are roofs) Income limit of 80% AMI Lien on the property o Repayment due upon title changing hands

9 Heating System Repair & Replacement Program (HEARTWAP) Statewide funding Repair or Replacement Furnace or Boiler Allowance for asbestos removal Income limit of 60% AMI o vetted through New England Farm Workers Council

10 Home Energy Assistance Fuel assistance benefit administered by The New England Farm Workers Council Payments made to primary heating vendor Discounts of up to 35% on gas & electric bills Income Limit is 60% AMI

11 Energy Efficiency & Weatherization Mass Save o o o May cover up to 75% of costs for interventions Supports interventions such as new lightbulbs, door seals and insulation Statewide funding through Eversource and Columbia Gas Springfield Partners for Community Action o o Covers 100% of the costs for recommended repairs or actions 60% AMI (prequalified through New England Farm Workers Council Ener-G-Save o o Thermal imaging utilized for some properties Funding from Harold Grinspoon Foundation HG&E in Holyoke administers its own energy audit programs

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13 Code Enforcement Citywide authority o Structural o Electrical o Sanitary Punitive approach o Fines o Condemnations

14 Local Coalitions Springfield Healthy Homes Collaborative Fair Housing Task Force Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition o Public Health Institute of Western Mass o Baystate Medical Center o Revitalize CDC

15 Other Partners & Allies Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts o formerly Partners for a Healthier Community Wayfinders o Get the Lead Out program CLPPP - Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Partnership Revitalize CDC Pioneer Valley Planning Commission o 2017 Strong, Healthy & Just - City of Springfield Climate Action Resilience Plan (CARP) o 2014 Our Next Future: Smart, Sustainable & Resilient Pioneer Valley Action Plan

16 Coming Together Benefits o Knowledge sharing o Leveraged funding o Cross-sector collaboration o Taking (modest) steps toward wrap-around supports Challenges o Identifying shared priorities o Targeting outcomes o Determining eligibility o Bureaucracy

17 Looking Ahead Springfield Office of Housing o Healthy Homes Program Round 2 o Potential for a HUD Lead Grant o Learning about Solar o Preparing to hire a Sustainability Coordinator Asthma Home Education & Repair Program o Pay for Success Pilot, Phase 2 Implementing the CARP o Springfield s Climate Action Resilience Plan

18 Thank You! Nigel D. Greaves, Senior Program Manager (413)