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Published on 06/28/17

Governor Nathan Deal proclaims June Healthy Homes Month

By Merritt Melancon

Georgia homeowners have the information that they need to make sure their houses are safe and healthy thanks to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and the Rural Georgia Healthy Homes Advisory Board.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designated June as National Healthy Homes Month to encourage homeowners to inspect their homes for hidden hazards, like mold, radon and lead.

“National Healthy Homes Month serves as an important educational call to action,” said Jon L. Gant, director of HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. “Providing families with the resources they need to keep their homes safe from potential health hazards, such as lead-based paint and pests, helps them to create the healthiest home possible.”

Georgia’s healthy home advocates worked with the office of Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to proclaim June as Georgia Healthy Homes Month, as well.

Deal signed the proclamation June 20 with the support of the Rural Georgia Healthy Homes Advisory Board, UGA Extension and the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Georgia Healthy Homes Coalition.

Pamela Turner, UGA Extension housing specialist, serves on the boards of both the Georgia Healthy Homes Coalition and the Rural Georgia Healthy Homes Advisory Board.  

“Creating a safe home environment for our families is a matter of knowing what to watch out for and making small changes in our behaviors to keep hazards at bay,” Turner said. “Our coalition of healthy housing advocates works year-round to get every Georgia homeowner the information they need to build healthier homes and healthier families.” 

The Rural Georgia Healthy Homes Advisory Board is a broad partnership that works to increase awareness of the factors that create healthy home and child care environments. The board offers a wide array of information, including a healthy homes curriculum. 

Homeowners can find more information on keeping their homes safe and healthy at www.georgiahealthyhousing.org.

Members of the Rural Georgia Healthy Homes Advisory Board represent the Georgia Department of Public Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, HUD, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, AT&T Pioneers, the Houston County, Georgia, Habitat for Humanity, and Supaid Community Resources. UGA’s representatives on the board include UGA Extension’s Turner and Family and Consumer Sciences agents Keishon Thomas, Mitzi Parker, Rebecca Stackhouse and Sylvia Davis.

Those seeking more information about making their homes safe and healthy can visit www.fcs.uga.edu/extension/home. 

Merritt Melancon is a public relations manager with UGA's Terry College of Business and previously served as a public relations coordinator for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Extension.

Authors:
Merritt Melancon
Experts/Sources:
Pamela R. Turner
Pamela Turner, UGA Extension housing specialist, serves on the boards of the Georgia Healthy Home Coalition and the Rural Georgia Healthy Housing Advisory Board, both of which worked with Gov. Nathan Deal to proclaim June Healthy Homes Month.
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