HUD launches app to make homes healthier

A new app from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is striving to make keeping healthy homes easier for consumers, like your clients.

While many think their homes are safe, there are dangers lurking that they can be unaware of. Aiming to raise awareness on hidden home hazards that could impact the health of residents, the Healthy Homes app will educate consumers about possible health and safety issues in homes, while teaching users how to protect themselves, according to the press release.

“There are many potential hazards that can be found in our homes such as mold and lead-based paint,” said Acting Director of the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Michelle Miller. “Our new app helps identify these potential problems and offers simple steps that consumers can take to fix them.”

The app will offer specific actions consumers can do to make their home healthy, as well as show them how healthy homes impact their own personal health. It will also offer quizzes to help users learn more about potential hazards like lead, mold and indoor air quality. And if users do find a hazard in their home, the app will instruct them how to eliminate it. According to the press release, most people spend 70 percent or more of their time inside their property, so it’s vital to have a healthy home.

The app offers eight basic steps for a healthy home:

1. Keep it dry.
2. Keep it clean.
3. Keep it pest-free.
4. Keep it safe.
5. Keep it contaminant-free.
6. Keep it well-ventilated.
7. Keep it well-maintained.
8. Keep it temperature-controlled.

The Healthy Homes App is available via Apple iTunes and Google Play.