Title
a. Receive a presentation from the County of Monterey Health Department’s Environmental Health Bureau regarding Healthy Housing Services; and
b. Provide direction, as appropriate, regarding development of a proactive healthy housing inspection and intervention program in Monterey County.
Presenters: Ric Encarnacion, Bureau Chief, Environmental Health Bureau, and Marni Flagg, Assistant Bureau Chief, Environmental Health Bureau.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Health, Housing, Homelessness and Human Services (HHHHS) Committee of the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a presentation from the County of Monterey Health Department’s Environmental Health Bureau regarding Healthy Housing Services; and
b. Provide direction, as appropriate, regarding development of a proactive healthy housing inspection and intervention program in Monterey County.
SUMMARY:
The Environmental Health Bureau (EHB) will provide an overview of the Healthy Housing Services (HHS) initiative, including the program’s background, public health purpose, current activities, and long-term vision for implementation of a proactive healthy housing program in Monterey County. The presentation will discuss environmental health hazards commonly associated with substandard housing conditions, populations disproportionately impacted by unhealthy housing conditions, and opportunities for prevention-focused interventions that improve housing quality, community health outcomes, and health equity.
The proposed (HHS) framework would transition from a primarily complaint-driven approach to a more proactive, risk-based, and data-informed strategy emphasizing education, partnerships, outreach, inspections, and early intervention.
DISCUSSION:
Healthy housing is foundational public health infrastructure. Poor housing conditions can contribute to a variety of adverse health outcomes, including asthma, communicable disease transmission, childhood lead exposure, pest infestations, mold-related ...
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