For Immediate Release 

Contact: Rebecca Morley
Phone: 410.772.2774  Cell: 703.868.0554
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National Center for Healthy Housing Celebration Draws Government, Private Sector, and Non-Profit Leaders

February 5 - Washington, DC - U.S. Housing Secretary Mel Martinez was among several prominent speakers to participate today in the 10-year anniversary celebration for The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH).

"HUD is committed to protecting our children from lead poisoning and other residential hazards," said Martinez. "I am pleased that NCHH is working alongside HUD to protect children and families from health and safety hazards in the home."

Other notable speakers were Stacey D. Stewart, President and CEO of The Fannie Mae Foundation, Bart Harvey, Chairman and CEO of The Enterprise Foundation, Don Ryan, Executive Director of The Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, Brion Cook, Acting Director, EPA National Program Chemicals Division, Patrick J. Meehan, Director of the Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, CDC National Center for Environmental Health, The Honorable Jack Reed, United States Senate and Nick Farr, former Executive Director of the National Center for Healthy Housing.

All speakers recognized the importance health and housing, since children spend approximately 80% of their time indoors. A growing concern has been the increase in asthma and the role of indoor environmental hazards in this nationwide epidemic.

Ten years ago The Fannie Mae Foundation provided a grant to launch NCHH. "Today, NCHH is a principal proponent of practical, cost-effective policies and techniques to reduce health-related hazards in our nation's housing stock. The Foundation is proud to contribute to NCHH's success in breaking down the barrier between affordable housing and safe housing," said Fannie Mae Foundation President and CEO Stacey D. Stewart.

"NCHH has carried out scientific research, program evaluation, training, and outreach to promote safer home environments while preserving affordable housing. Since its inception in 1992, NCHH has raised over $6 million in private sector funds for lead poisoning prevention and administered lead-related training that has reached over 40,000 workers nationwide. Today, NCHH is beginning new work; that is to control other emerging health-related hazards in low-income housing communities.

Protecting children from environmental hazards is at the heart of NCHH's work in low-income communities across the country," said Bart Harvey, chairman and CEO of The Enterprise Foundation.  "Sub-standard housing can pose a host of health hazards, leaving children and families very vulnerable. As a supporting organization of The Enterprise Foundation, NCHH continues to help ensure safe and healthy homes for America's children."

Among NCHH's achievements are a groundbreaking study correlating lead dust and blood lead levels in children, and an evaluation sponsored by HUD showing a 50 to 80 percent decline in lead dust in homes where control measures were carried out. NCHH also developed the first comprehensive guidelines for evaluating and controlling lead-based paint hazards, and recently convened a team of scientific and policy experts to begin work to develop strategies that will protect children from unhealthy housing conditions.

 "Much work remains to be done, particularly in low-income and minority communities, which continue to be disproportionately impacted by lead poisoning and other emerging diseases," says Rebecca Morley, executive director of NCHH.

African American children are five times more likely than white children to be lead poisoned, five times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma, and die at alarming rates from certain injuries, such as residential fires where the death rate is three times higher for black infants and toddlers.

 "I anticipate another busy and productive decade as we tackle these disparities to ensure safe, healthy, and affordable housing throughout our nation," said Ms. Morley.

NCHH is a supporting organization of The Enterprise Foundation and the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning. NCHH develops and promotes practical methods for protecting children from residential environmental hazards while preserving the supply of affordable housing.

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