Sub-standard Housing Presents Multiple Obstacles
"School attendance is directly influenced by housing quality. Children with a history of lead exposure – typically resulting from deteriorated housing conditions - are more likely to miss school than their peers with lower blood lead levels." (See the HUB's story The Educational Costs of Unhealthy Housing). "Poor housing quality also contributes to asthma, a costly and chronic disease affecting nearly 5 million children nationwide. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that asthma is the #1 cause of school absenteeism with more than 13 million school days missed each year as a result." (The HUB expects to have asthma data soon.)
"Through home-based housing interventions, such as those conducted by Green & Healthy Homes Initiative partners in locations around the country, including communities in Rhode Island, we can use housing as a platform to reduce chronic absenteeism. All children and their families deserve to live in safe, healthy and energy-efficient homes that are conducive to promoting family health, stability and improved quality of life.”
-- Ruth Ann Norton, Executive Director, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative
