Pandemic Response Guidance - Prioritizing Remediation of Unhealthy Housing

Prioritize remediation of unhealthy housing in light of the higher impacts of extended time in the home for thoses under “stay at home” or “shelter in place” orders.

• Immediately require the placement of carbon monoxide detectors in federally supported and assisted housing.
• Expand the capacity to provide virtual and online healthy housing training programs–including the EPA’s Renovations, Repair, and Painting Program– to increase access to these programs for low-income communities and communities of color and ultimately create additional jobs through workforce, environmental health, and technology grants after the orders end.
• Enact proactive rental inspection programs in state and local governments, to launch after the state of emergency has ended, with provisions that allow renters to trigger inspection and remediation while preventing retaliation against those renters.
• Supply funds for emergency environmental healthy housing repair and residential services for energy efficiency that remediate severe mold, lead, pest management, and temperature control issues that should be addressed to reduce the prevalence of respiratory illness that can exacerbate COVID-19 outcomes.
• Ensure there is clear communication, available in multiple languages, about new programs and policies.