Healthy Homes for People with Asthma

Revitalize CDC's DASHH program provides education, supplies, home assessments and, if needed, home repairs.  To qualify, you must be low income and have high risk asthma.  Adults and children, homeowners and renters are eligible.

For more information and to apply, visit 413Cares or check out Revitalize CDC.

PVAC's work on Healthy Homes

Since 2009, the Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition has been leading collaborative efforts to address the housing conditions that can cause or exacerbate asthma. In 2017, PVAC joined with Revitalize CDC to work on a healthy homes model to address one of the root causes of asthma – unhealthy housing. This collaboration, now led by RevitalizeCDC and called “Doorway to an Accessible, Healthy Home or DASHH, won the 2021 Healthcare Heroes Award for healthcare collaborations. This work was developed with technical assistance and funding from the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative.  A number of healthcare organizations including Baystate Health Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department, Baystate Research, the Be Healthy Partnership ACO, and Holyoke Medical Center have partnered on this project as well as the City of Springfield through the Springfield Healthy Homes Collaborative. With the pandemic, the team was able to pivot to address the needs of patients with virtual visits and home assessment, expanded supplies including air purifiers, air conditioners, cleaning supplies and masks.PHIWM will continue to provide data management for RevitalizeCDC as they take on the management of this program.

Improving health and quality of life

Our CHW worked with a 12 year old whose triggers are pets, cleaners/fragrances, mold, dust/dust mites, pests, cold air, and exercise. Education was provided on pets, safe cleaning, and importance of exercise and strategies to deal with the cold. Supplies included green cleaning products and mattress/pillow protectors.  After receiving education on medication management, the chid began using controller medication more consistently by adding a reminder to her cellphone with grandmother’s support.  Repairs included removing carpeting in child’s bedroom and replacing with laminate flooring, repairing bathroom fan and giving a dehumidifier. Smoke/CO2 detectors were installed as well and her asthma control improved .