Healthy Homes

Financial Assistance

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 15:46:12 +0000

Financial Assistance

Funding Assistance for a Healthier Home

If your home has an environmental health problem such as radon, mold, lead or a failing water system, there may be money available to help you fix it. The following programs offer assistance with home repairs for health and safety. Read about the funding options below to see if you qualify.

adm-kristen.cameron Wed, 03/05/2025 - 10:46

General Home Repair

The following organizations offer help with funding repairs for a healthy home, including radon mitigation, getting rid of mold, lead testing and remediation, and repairing or constructing a water system.

NeighborWorks

NeighborWorks organizations provide low-cost loans and grants for home repairs. To be eligible, you must:

Own and occupy your home.
Have a gross household income less than 80% of the area median income.

There are five NeighborWorks organizations serving Vermont:

The Champlain Housing Trust serves Chittenden*, Franklin and Grand Isle counties (*Burlington properties are not eligible).
Downstreet Housing & Community Development serves Washington, Orange and Lamoille counties.
RuralEdge serves Caledonia, Orleans and Essex counties.
NeighborWorks of Western Vermont serves Addison, Rutland and Bennington counties.
The Windham & Windsor Housing Trust serves Windham and Windsor counties.

USDA Rural Development's Section 504 Housing Program

The Section 504 Home Repair program provides low-cost loans and grants to eligible Vermonters. To be eligible for a loan, you must:

Own and occupy your home.
Have a gross household income less than 50% of your area’s median income.
Live in an eligible area. (Check your address to determine your eligibility. Burlington residents are not eligible.)

To qualify for a grant, you must be 62 or older and unable to repay a loan. Applicants under age 62 are eligible only for loans. Call the On-Site Loan Program at 802-461-6051 or visit the United States Department of Agriculture website for more information.

Pests and Bed Bugs

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:22:59 +0000

Pests and Bed Bugs

Using Pesticides in Your Home

Pests in and around our homes can be a nuisance. Pests include insects (for example, cockroaches, bed bugs, wasps, and garden bugs), rodents (for example, mice and rats), and weeds. The pesticides, or chemicals, we use to treat pests can cause serious health problems. Pesticides can contaminate our indoor environment, cause and trigger allergies and asthma, and be especially dangerous to children, pregnant women, and pets.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a safer, effective, and environmentally friendly method used to control pests that is based on common-sense principles and science. This method focuses on minimizing the use of hazardous pesticides by first using knowledge of the life cycles of pests and how they interact with their environment to figure out the best ways to control the problem. If chemicals must be used, safer pesticides are chosen.

Be very cautious about using pesticides yourself. Pesticides can be hazardous to people and pets. If you choose to use a pesticide, or a licensed pest control professional suggests you use one, follow these precautions:

Only use pesticides clearly labeled for the type of pest you want to get rid of. Never use a pesticide that does not list the pest on the label.
Never use a product that is labelled for “outdoor use only” indoors.
Follow label instructions exactly.
Never spray pesticides on top of mattresses or sofas, or in areas where children or pets are present.
Never purchase or use a product without a manufacturer’s label and never buy pesticides from street vendors.
Avoid using “insecticide bombs” and “foggers” in your home. These products can spread hazardous chemicals throughout your home.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has more information on IPM and Safe Pest Control.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. They are usually active at night when people are sleeping. Adult bed bugs have flat, rusty-red-colored oval bodies. About the size of an apple seed, they are big enough to be easily seen, but often hide in cracks in furniture, floors, or walls. When bed bugs feed, their bodies swell and become brighter red. They can live for several months without food or water.

Bed bugs bite, but they do not transmit disease. Bed bugs painlessly feed on their host, injecting a tiny amount of saliva in the process, which can result in mild to severe allergic reactions. Many people do not react to bed bug bites, although the bite may leave a small welt. These welts do not have a red spot in the center like flea bites. Excessive scratching of these bites is highly discouraged as it can lead to secondary infections.

vdhadmin Mon, 07/18/2016 - 10:22

Mold

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:22:59 +0000

Mold

vdhadmin Mon, 07/18/2016 - 10:22

Carbon Monoxide

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:22:59 +0000

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide in Your Home

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas you cannot see or smell. It is produced when liquid, solid or gas fuel is burned — such as natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, wood and wood pellets. Dangerous levels can build up quickly in your home, garage, or other enclosed areas. CO poisoning is more often a problem in the colder months since that is when Vermonters burn fuel to keep warm and their homes are closed up.

vdhadmin Mon, 07/18/2016 - 10:22

Radon

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:22:59 +0000

Radon

Radon in Your Home

One in seven Vermont homes has elevated levels of radon. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has no color, smell or taste. Radon comes from the decay of uranium, which is a radioactive element found naturally in the Earth’s crust. Over billions of years, uranium decays into radium, and eventually, radon. Radon is present in outdoor air, and radon levels can build up inside your home.

Unless you test for it, there is no way of knowing if radon is in your home.

Order a Radon Test Kit

vdhadmin Mon, 07/18/2016 - 10:22

Watch this video and hear one Vermonter’s story about the impact of high levels of radon in her childhood home.

Indoor Air Quality

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:22:59 +0000

Indoor Air Quality

Air Quality in Your Home

National studies have shown that air pollution in our homes can be more of a health concern than air pollution outside. Indoor pollutant levels may, in fact, be many times higher than outdoor levels. There are three main reasons why indoor air quality is becoming more of a health concern:

It is estimated that Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors.
More harmful chemicals are used in building materials, furnishings, pesticides, and household cleaning and personal care products.
Homes and other buildings may not be properly ventilated.

vdhadmin Mon, 07/18/2016 - 10:22

Home Renovations and Your Health

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:22:59 +0000

Home Renovations and Your Health

What to Do Before Renovating Your Home

vdhadmin Mon, 07/18/2016 - 10:22

Lead Hazards and Lead Poisoning

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:22:59 +0000

Lead Hazards and Lead Poisoning

Lead Hazards in Your Home

Lead poisoning is a serious but preventable health problem. Lead is a highly toxic metal that has been commonly used in many household, industrial and automobile products — such as paint, solder, batteries, brass, car radiators, bullets, pottery, etc. Too much lead in the body, or lead poisoning, can cause serious and permanent health problems. Children and people who are pregnant are at special risk.

The major source of lead poisoning in Vermont children is lead dust from chipping or peeling lead-based paint, but there are many other lead hazards. Lead poisoning can be prevented when you know what danger signs and hazards to look for.

vdhadmin Mon, 07/18/2016 - 10:22

Translated information in: العربية (Arabic) | English | नेपाली (Nepali) | Soomaali (Somali)

Safe Home Environment

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:22:59 +0000

Safe Home Environment

Staying Safe in Your Home

Injuries, accidents and poisonings are common in homes. Taking the following precautions can help prevent them from happening in your home and help to keep yourself and your family safe.

vdhadmin Mon, 07/18/2016 - 10:22