Alexandria is offering low-income residents with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) a chance to clean up the air quality in their homes for free.
The program, which launched last year, is part of the city’s Healthy Homes initiative. Eligible applicants will get a number of home visits from the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) to make a plan for healthier air.
“Some people we know are waking up in the middle of the night coughing, and are not able to do their daily needs because they are feeling sick or going to the ER (emergency room) because they are not treating something that’s preventable,” Natalie Talis, an AHD population health manager told ALXnow. “The goal is here to empower residents to be able to take the actions and steps they need to live their healthiest lives.”
Talis said that the poorest areas of Alexandria — in the Arlandria and West End neighborhoods — have higher rates of asthma hospitalizations. She also said that those locations are where the most frequent health code violations occur.
To participate in the six month program, applicants must earn less than 80% of the area median income, be diagnosed with COPD or asthma by a health care provider and live in the city. Applicants will get a call from the health department to inform them what to expect and ask questions, followed by the home visits to find out what’s triggering their health issues.
AHD worked with 20 households when the pilot program launched in 2022. The program was refined afterward, and then relaunched in June 2023. About 40 households have participated so far, Talis said.
The city also gives participants green cleaning supplies and an air purifier.
