The Alameda County Healthy Homes Alliance is a collective of government agencies, community organizations, and businesses that are dedicated to improving the physical and mental health of Alameda County residents. Through strategies, analyses, and partnerships, the Alliance strives to raise awareness of the connection between environmental and human and planetary factors, as well as reduce health disparities. Many Alameda County residents live in unhealthy homes that can cause, aggravate, or accelerate environmental illnesses such as asthma and lead poisoning, putting children and the elderly at risk of injury. To address this issue, Place Matters collaborated with department leaders and with CAPE to create a survey among ACPHD and Alameda County Behavioral Health Services staff.
The Alameda County Department of Public Health (ACPHD) has partnered with grassroots organizers, defense organizations, and other government partners to change local policies and practices related to housing, affordability, and access to housing in order to eliminate housing and health inequalities in low-income communities. For example, the ACPHD is currently working with its sister agency, the Alameda County Department of Healthy Homes, to advocate for changes in code compliance policies and practices to protect health. Additionally, members of the Alliance keep up to date on Coalition activities and participate in quarterly meetings or calls. In an effort to further their mission, the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHE) invited the county supervisor to create a place-related issues team in Alameda County. The ACPHD's vision is: “Everyone in Alameda County, no matter who they are, where they live, how much money they make, or the color of their skin, live a healthy, full, and productive life.” Poor housing in Alameda County has a disproportionate negative impact on the health, comfort, and quality of life of vulnerable populations in particular. The Alliance is committed to improving the health of all Alameda County residents by raising awareness about environmental causes.
Through their efforts to change local policies and practices related to housing affordability and access to housing, they are working towards eliminating health disparities in low-income communities. The Alliance also encourages residents to take action by participating in quarterly meetings or calls. By doing so, they can help create a healthier environment for everyone in Alameda County.
