HealthyHomeHelp Inc. is a non-profit that was formed because a small group of industry professionals felt that “good indoor environmental health should not be a question of personal wealth.” Everyone deserves a healthy home, regardless of their economic situation. We are committed to helping make this belief a reality.

Indoor environmental health significantly impacts our well-being, with a particular influence on individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Achieving a healthy living environment, however, can be challenging due to several factors often tied to financial resources:

• Homeowners Insurance Most Often DOES NOT Cover Professional Assessments and Remediation Costs: Professional services required to identify and remediate contaminants like mold or VOCs can be expensive. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that mold remediation is frequently excluded from homeowners insurance policies. This exclusion leaves many homeowners facing substantial out-of-pocket expenses to address mold issues, a cost that can be unaffordable for some.
• Medical Insurance Most Often DOES NOT Cover Access to Specialized Healthcare: The impact of poor indoor environmental quality on health is profound, yet access to environmental and functional medicine—specialties that focus on these issues—is often not covered by medical insurance. This lack of coverage leaves individuals facing significant barriers to receiving the care they need for conditions related to environmental exposures.
• Landlord and Property Management Practices: Landlords and property management companies can be dismissive of the seriousness of mold and other environmental exposure issues. There is a tendency to opt for superficial fixes, such as painting over mold, rather than addressing the underlying issues. This approach not only fails to resolve the problem but can also exacerbate health risks for residents.
• Housing Quality and Environmental Inequity: Economic disparities lead to differences in housing quality and location, with lower-income individuals more likely to live in older, poorly maintained buildings prone to issues like mold. Additionally, these buildings are often in areas with higher environmental pollution, compounding indoor air quality problems.
• Maintenance and Upkeep Costs: Ongoing maintenance required to maintain indoor environmental health, such as HVAC upkeep and mold prevention, entails costs that can accumulate over time, making it difficult for financially constrained individuals to keep up.
• Quality of Building Materials and Home Improvements: Non-toxic, low-VOC materials and home improvements like enhanced ventilation or air purification systems are often costlier. These healthier options remain out of reach for individuals with limited financial resources, restricting their access to a healthier living environment.
• Lack of Awareness and Educational Resources: While knowledge about maintaining indoor environmental health is crucial, accessing and implementing this information often requires both time and money. Disparities in education and awareness further widen the gap between different socioeconomic groups.
• Professional Assessments and Remediation Costs: Professional services required to identify and remediate contaminants like mold or VOCs can be expensive. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that mold remediation is frequently excluded from homeowners insurance policies. This exclusion leaves many homeowners facing substantial out-of-pocket expenses to address mold issues, a cost that can be unaffordable for some.
• Quality of Building Materials and Home Improvements: Non-toxic, low-VOC materials and home improvements like enhanced ventilation or air purification systems are often costlier. These healthier options remain out of reach for individuals with limited financial resources, restricting their access to a healthier living environment.
• Maintenance and Upkeep Costs: Ongoing maintenance required to maintain indoor environmental health, such as HVAC upkeep and mold prevention, entails costs that can accumulate over time, making it difficult for financially constrained individuals to keep up.
• Lack of Awareness and Educational Resources: While knowledge about maintaining indoor environmental health is crucial, accessing and implementing this information often requires both time and money. Disparities in education and awareness further widen the gap between different socioeconomic groups.

The Role of Non-Profits: Organizations like HealthyHomeHelp Inc. are vital in bridging these disparities. By providing access to services, education, and support for improving indoor environmental health, these organizations help ensure that a healthier home is not a privilege reserved for those with the financial means. Their efforts are crucial in making healthy living environments accessible to everyone, emphasizing that good health, particularly in one’s living space, should be a universal right, not contingent on personal wealth.