Legal Definitions - Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control

The Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control (OHHLHC) is a specialized division within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Its primary mission is to protect public health by addressing hazards in residential environments. This includes educating communities about the risks of lead poisoning, particularly from lead-based paint, and developing strategies for identifying and safely removing these hazards. Beyond lead, OHHLHC also spearheads the Healthy Homes Initiative, which aims to inform the public about other potential dangers within homes, such as mold, radon, and allergens, and to promote safer living conditions. The office also works to support state and local governments in creating and implementing their own prevention programs.

Here are some examples of how the OHHLHC's work applies:

• Example 1: Community Lead Awareness Campaign

  A local community organization in an older urban neighborhood wants to educate residents about the dangers of lead exposure, especially for children living in homes built before 1978. The OHHLHC could provide the organization with federally approved educational materials, guidelines for identifying potential lead paint hazards, and information on how to safely manage or abate lead-based paint during home renovations. This support helps the community protect its most vulnerable members from lead poisoning.

  How this illustrates the term: This scenario directly demonstrates OHHLHC's role in informing the public about the dangers of lead poisoning, particularly from lead-based paint, and developing methods for detection and abatement by providing resources and guidelines.

• Example 2: State-Level Healthy Housing Grant Program

  A state housing agency is developing a new grant program to help low-income families make their homes safer and healthier. They consult with the OHHLHC to ensure their program incorporates best practices for addressing various indoor environmental hazards. This includes not only lead hazard control but also guidance on mitigating issues like radon gas, pest infestations, and excessive moisture that can lead to mold growth, aligning with the broader goals of the Healthy Homes Initiative.

  How this illustrates the term: This example highlights OHHLHC's function in encouraging states and local governments to develop prevention programs and implementing the Department's Healthy Home Initiative to warn the public of other potential household hazards beyond lead.

• Example 3: Research and Development of New Hazard Detection

  A university research team develops a new, more affordable sensor technology that can quickly detect airborne mold spores in residential settings. The OHHLHC might evaluate this technology, fund pilot programs to test its effectiveness in diverse housing types, and, if successful, promote its use to housing authorities and homeowners as part of its ongoing effort to develop methods of detection for various household hazards under the Healthy Homes Initiative.

  How this illustrates the term: This scenario showcases OHHLHC's involvement in developing methods of detection for various household hazards and its commitment to the Healthy Homes Initiative by exploring and promoting new tools for safer living environments.