A SELF HELP Guide to 

Healthy Homes

for American Indian and 

Alaska Native Families

■ The Eight Principles of a Healthy Home

■ Key Questions to Ask About Your Home

www.hud.gov/healthyhomes OFFICE OF LEAD HAZARD CONTROL AND HEALTHY HOMES

Healthy 

Children Healthy Families Healthy Communities
OFFICE OF

LEAD HAZARD CONTROL

AND HEALTHY HOMES

Healthy 

Children

Healthy

Families

Healthy United States Department of Agriculture Communities

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Keep Your Home Healthy and Safe

Every Day Every Week Every Month Every 6 Months Every Year

Turn on the bathroom 

fan while taking a bath 

or shower.

Change and wash 

bedding.

Check your air filter and 

replace if necessary. 

(Replace every 3 months).

Clean your gutters of 

leaves and debris. Treat deck/patio for 

mold and mildew.

Put trash in garbage 

cans (do not allow to 

build up).

 Vacuum (with 

HEPA filter) 

carpeting and 

sweep/wet 

clean floors.

Test smoke and carbon 

monoxide detectors 

(change batteries 

every 6 months).

Clean your kitchen 

exhaust fan and filter.

Deep clean and inspect 

your basement.

Wipe countertops in the 

kitchen, bathroom and 

laundry room.

Clean bathrooms and 

kitchens.

Trim trees and bushes. Clear 

leaves and debris from 

around your home and roof.

Test your GFCI outlets. Inspect screens and replace 

any that have holes.

Keep floors dry 

and clean.

Remove clutter. Dust 

surfaces of furniture

and blinds.

Check for water leaks, 

inspect sump pump

(if applicable).

Check all locks and 

deadbolts on your doors 

and windows.

Inspect roof for cracks, 

leaks, or broken 

shingles/tiles.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes

April 2020
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A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

for Native American Families

Helping American Indians and Alaska 

Natives Have Safe and Healthy Homes

How do you know if your home is a safe and healthy home?

This self-help guide is intended to help Native Americans (American Indian and Alaska 

Native) learn about potential hazards inside your home - and what to do about these 

hazards. All residents can benefit, whether you live in Alaska or in the lower 48 states, 

and regardless of type of home, whether in rural or more urban areas. Any family 

member who learns more about what actions to take, can make a difference!

A safe and healthy home is a home that is maintained by residents to avoid injuries 

and illness to all who live there. Common indoor health concerns include lead hazard 

control, air quality, mold and moisture, pest management, and injury prevention.

HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes 

also has another brochure that can help, Everyone Deserves 

a Safe and Healthy Home. This publication also highlights 

how a single unhealthy housing problem can lead to 

multiple health effects on you and family members. It can 

be downloaded at: https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/

SAFEANDHEALTHYHOME.PDF

The Eight Principles of a Healthy Home described on 

the next page are some basic things to be aware of and take actions around. For 

example, how do you know if your home has asthma triggers or lead?

After reading the Eight Principles on the next page, do a “check-up” of your home, 

by answering the questions that follow. Then, contact your health department, 

social services agency, or appropriate tribal entity, to see if they can 

provide a healthy homes assessment. If you are unable to get a healthy homes 

assessment in your area, use the checklist on page 20. You can also use a simple 

tool at https://healthyhomes.fcgov.com/
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Helping Native Americans Have Safe and Healthy Homes

❶Keep it dry:Prevent water from entering 

the home through leaks 

in roofing systems, prevent 

rainwater from entering the 

home due to poor drainage, 

and check interior plumbing for any leaking.

❷Keep it clean:

Control the source of dust 

and contaminants, creating 

smooth and cleanable 

surfaces, reducing clutter, 

and using effective wetcleaning methods, such as gentle washing 

with soap or safe cleaning products.

❸Keep it safe:

Store poisons out of the 

reach of children and 

properly label. Secure loose 

rugs and keep children’s play 

areas free from hard or sharp surfaces. Install 

smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and 

keep fire extinguishers on hand.

❹Keep it well ventilated: 

Ventilate bathrooms and 

kitchens and, if possible, 

use whole-house ventilation 

for supplying fresh air to 

reduce the concentration of 

contaminants in the home.

The Eight Principles of a Healthy Home - The Cornerstone

HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes defines Eight Principles of a Healthy Home. 

Briefly, they are:

❺Keep it pest-free:

All pests look for food, water, and 

shelter. Seal cracks and openings 

throughout the home; store food 

in pest-resistant containers. If 

needed, use sticky-traps and baits 

in closed containers, along with least-toxic 

pesticides such as boric acid powder.

❻Keep it contaminant-free:

Reduce lead-related hazards 

in pre-1978 homes by fixing 

deteriorated paint and keeping 

floors and window areas clean 

using a wet-cleaning approach. Test the 

home for radon, a naturally occurring 

dangerous gas that enters homes through 

soil, crawlspaces, and foundation cracks. 

Install a radon removal system if levels 

above the EPA action level are detected.

❼Keep it well maintained:

Inspect, clean, and repair the 

home routinely. Take care of 

minor repairs and problems 

before they become large 

repairs and problems.

❽Keep it thermally controlled:

Houses that do not maintain 

adequate temperatures may 

place the safety of residents at 

increased risk from exposure 

to extreme cold or heat.
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A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

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Ten Important Questions to Ask About Your Home

Ask yourself these important questions about your home and how you live in it. By answering 

them, you can find out if your home is healthy. A home assessment, which you do with a 

housing professional, will also cover many of these questions. 

Lead can permanently damage your nervous system, 

including your brain. It can cause permanent 

learning and behavior problems in children. It can 

also permanently affect your hearing.

1. Was your home built before 1978?

Many houses and apartments built before 1978 

have paint that contains high levels of lead 

(called lead-based paint). Lead from paint, 

chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards 

if not taken care of properly. Lead poisoning 

is one of the biggest health risks for young 

children at home. Even children who appear 

healthy can have dangerous levels of lead in 

their bodies.

Lead can permanently damage your 

nervous system, including your brain. It can 

cause permanent learning and behavior 

problems in children. It can also permanently 

affect your hearing.

Key Actions

➤ Children at one and two years old should be tested each 

year by visiting a doctor or health clinic. You should 

continue testing children six years old or younger if there 

is exposure to lead in your home. A blood test can be done 

by a pediatrician. For more information about lead hazards, call 

the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323). 

This number, and all the phone numbers in this guide, may also 

be reached by people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who have 

speech disabilities, by teletype at 711.
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Helping Native Americans Have Safe and Healthy Homes

➤ Test your drinking water, paint, and soil for contamination, in and 

around your round your house, using a certified lead risk assessor. 

(Test tap water and other water sources every two years). You can find 

a certified water tester at: https://www.epa.gov/dwlabcert If you are 

unable to talk with a certified lead risk assessor, discuss getting your 

water tested by a nearby water utility. If you get your water from a 

well, contact your health or housing departments about getting your 

water tested for lead. Since 1986 only “lead free” pipe, solder or flux 

can be legally used in the installation or repair of any plumbing in 

residential or non-residential facilities providing water for human 

consumption, which is connected to a Public Water System.

➤ If you have questions or concerns about your drinking water, call the 

EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791 or visit https://

www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water. Information

about protecting private drinking water wells is available at 

https://www.epa.gov/privatewells.

➤ See the Resources section in this booklet, especially the Protect Your 

Family from Lead in Your Home booklet.

2. Do people smoke in your home?

Tobacco smoke (cigarettes, pipes, cigars, hookahs, and 

e-cigarettes) can cause or aggravate severe health problems. 

A tobacco-free home is a healthier environment for 

everyone. There is a long history of the ceremonial smoking 

of tobacco in tribal communities, but now most people 

smoke tobacco products as a personal choice. Smokers 

become addicted to the nicotine in tobacco products.

Key Actions

➤ Don’t allow smoking in your home. Ask family members or guests to 

smoke outside.

➤ Visit www.cdc.gov/tobacco/disparities/american-indians/index.htm.

➤ If you smoke and you are interested in quitting, you can call the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hotline (800) QUIT-Now, 

or the American Lung Association, at (800) LUNG-USA for help.

Don’t allow smoking in 

your home. Ask family 

members or guests to 

smoke outside.
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A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

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Prevent Devastating Fires and Deadly Burns

Fire and burns are a danger to all family members. Plan and practice a 

fire escape route with your family.

Key Actions

➤ Put a smoke alarm on every floor of your home and near every 

sleeping area. You should install smoke alarms with sealed 10-yr 

batteries. A major cause of smoke alarm failures is batteries being 

removed. If you can afford one, buy a combination smoke and 

carbon monoxide (CO) detector. A properly installed and maintained 

smoke alarm is one of the best and cheapest ways to be warned early 

of a potentially deadly fire.

➤ Playing with fire - matches, lighters, stoves or heaters - is the leading 

cause of fire-related deaths for children 5 and under. Storing matches, 

lighters, and other heat sources in a safe place like a locked drawer 

will help keep children from playing with them.

➤ Space heaters such as electric or kerosene heaters cause the most 

burns at home. Keep these heaters out of doorways and all busy 

areas, and at least 3 feet from curtains, bedding, carpet, and other 

things that could catch fire. Teach children that heaters will burn. 

You might consider putting a barrier to keep children and pets away. 

➤ In addition to the above key actions, you should consider buying 

renter's or homeowner's insurance.

Many Native Americans use wood burning stoves or fireplaces as their 

primary heat sources. Be aware that smoke from wood burning contains 

a mixture of gases and soot that can cause health problems such as 

burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis. Burn wood 

safely. Wood smoke can affect everyone, but children, teenagers, older 

adults, people with lung disease (including asthma and COPD), and 

people with heart diseases are the most vulnerable.
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Helping Native Americans Have Safe and Healthy Homes

Mold may begin growing 

indoors and be seen 

when these mold spores 

land on surfaces that are 

wet or in rooms that are 

humid.

Key Actions

➤ Have your fireplace or wood stove inspected each year (or at least when 

the air gets smoky in the room) for carbon monoxide leaks. Chimney 

companies or heating and cooling repair companies can check for CO. 

➤ Learn more about the health effects of wood smoke and how to protect 

your family at https://www.epa.gov/burnwise.

➤ See the Resources section in this booklet.

3. Are any of the areas or rooms 

 in your home damp or moist?

Molds are part of nature, but inside your home 

mold growth should be avoided. Mold spreads 

in tiny spores that are too small to see. The 

spores float through the indoor air of your 

home. Mold may begin growing indoors and be 

seen when these mold spores land on surfaces 

that are wet or in rooms that are humid. Damp 

and humid areas of your home can also be a 

hazard, even without mold.

Many people are allergic or sensitive to mold. Most people are not 

born with mold allergies or sensitivities but develop them after chronic 

(ongoing) exposure to molds in their home. Chronic exposure to mold 

may also cause asthma to develop.

If you have allergy problems or asthma at home, but not when you’re 

away, you may have mold growing in your home. If you have mold in 

your home, you may have trouble breathing, or have wheezing, runny 

nose, headaches, itching, or watery eyes. Damp or humid areas (often 

with a musty odor) of your home can also cause these symptoms in 

people with asthma.

Mold is usually found in areas of high humidity (kitchen, bathroom) 

or moisture (roof and pipe leaks). Mold can grow on walls, clothes or 

appliances. It also can grow in hidden places like behind walls, in attics, 

and under carpet. Mold can smell musty. A musty odor usually means 

mold is alive and growing.
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A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

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Key Actions

➤ Open doors and/or windows to prevent mold from 

forming if the outdoor humidity is less than 50% (not 

stuffy or muggy).

➤ Keep the humidity in your home less than 50%. Use a 

dehumidifier if your home is too humid.

➤ Install and use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens.

➤ Clean up water and puddles from leaking pipes, sinks, 

toilets, ceiling or walls, and fix leaks right away.

➤ Make sure your dryer vents to the outside.

➤ Keep gutters and downspouts clear and makesure

downspouts direct water away from your foundation.

➤ Small amounts of mold can be removed with laundry detergent or 

dishwater soap in water and scrubbing with a stiff brush, but use eye 

protection, rubber gloves, and a dust mask (N-95 on the label).

➤ See the Resources section in this booklet.

4. Do members of your family have asthma or wheezing?

Asthma is a lung disease. A total of 40 to 50 million people have allergies 

or asthma in the United States, with more than seven million of those 

being children. An allergy is an unusual reaction to something that you 

eat or breathe. Asthma makes it hard to breathe. If you have asthma, 

your chest often feels tight, your breathing sounds raspy, and you are 

wheezing and experience coughing. Allergies can cause a runny nose, 

watery eyes and sneezing. Allergies can also affect your skin 

with a rash or itching.

There are many items in the home environment that 

can cause asthma attacks, and they are called “triggers.” 

An example of a trigger is pollen from trees and flowers. 

Other triggers come from chemicals, dogs and cats, 

Install and use exhaust fans in 

bathrooms and kitchens.
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Helping Native Americans Have Safe and Healthy Homes

cockroaches, mice, mold, and cigarette smoke. Some of these triggers 

are very small dust mites, or tiny “bugs” that you can’t see. They live 

where there is high humidity - in carpets, bedding, furniture, and stuffed 

animals.

Using a vacuum cleaner that has a high-efficiency 

particulate air (HEPA) filter will help control very fine 

dust and particles.

Key Actions

➤ Wash bedding in hot water and detergent 

every week.

➤ Use the highest dryer heat the clothing 

care label recommends and make sure the 

clothing is dry.

➤ Vacuuming: On carpets, using a vacuum 

cleaner that has a high-efficiency particulate 

air (HEPA) filter will help control the very 

fine dust and particles.

➤ Frequently clean and replace air filters every 

three months. Use a filter that is labeled a 

MERV 8 or higher if you have pets. More 

frequent filter replacement is necessary when 

the home is near wildfires.

➤ Eliminate pests in your home (see section 7).

➤ Avoid smoking inside your home (see section 

2).

➤ If you heat or cook with wood or other fuels, 

make sure the fireplace or stove is well 

vented (see section 5).

➤ Substitute milder cleaners for strong cleaners 

such as bleach and ammonia that can 

trigger asthma. (see section 8).

➤ See the Resources section in this booklet.

Frequently clean and replace air filters every three 

months. Use a filter that is labeled a MERV 8 or 

higher if you have pets.
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A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

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Renting Your Home?

If you are a tenant and renting your home, many hazards 

will have to be reported to and handled by your property 

manager/landlord. Here are many common problems:

 Check for signs of high humidity, such as condensation on 

windows, or mold on walls or ceilings. Use fans while cooking or showering, or open windows.

 Search for peeling paint, inside and out. Ask the property manager/landlord to test for lead if 

your home was built before 1978.

 Get loose or broken handrails, stairs or decking fixed.

 Look for water leaks under sinks and around toilets and follow up.

 Look for signs of rodent or cockroach infestation and follow up.

 Make sure air conditioners and furnaces are being serviced regularly.

 Look for any damage to a woodstove, such as broken seals or gaskets, a loose door or cracked 

glass. Alert your property manager.

 Check on overloading of electrical outlets; outages will occur if too many appliances are being 

used at once.

 Shoe-free homes will reduce dirt (and germs and chemicals) that is brought in - at a minimum, 

put door mats at each entrance.

 Do not let pregnant women or children come in contact with weed killers or other poisons. 

Meet with the property manager to see about alternatives.

 Empty water collection tank of a dehumidifier before it is full.

 Have the property manager/landlord test the water pipes connecting the home to the water 

main and the water pipes inside the home for lead. Lead pipes are more likely to be found in 

homes built before 1986.

Report any of these conditions or situations to your

property manager/landlord – promptly!
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Helping Native Americans Have Safe and Healthy Homes

5. Do you use gas, propane, or wood for 

 cooking or heating?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a dangerous gas and it is not 

safe to breathe. You can’t see, taste, or smell it. You 

should always have a CO alarm in your home. If 

you are exposed to CO, you might get headaches, upset 

stomach, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, or confusion. 

Severe cases can cause brain damage, blindness, deafness, heart 

problems, or death. Exposure to CO can be a major threat to you and 

your family’s health.

Fuel burning appliances and automobiles are the main source 

of carbon monoxide in your home. They use natural gas, gasoline, 

kerosene, coal, propane, oil, or wood. CO can be produced if fuel 

burning appliances aren’t vented to the outside or are not working 

correctly. 

Also, if not ventilated properly, these appliances can pollute indoor 

air in other ways as well such as small particles and other gases that 

can irritate the lungs and eyes. It is especially a concern for people 

with chronic health conditions such as asthma, COPD, and heart 

disease.

Key Actions

➤ Have a professional check your furnace, water heater, gas appliances, 

flues, chimneys and fireplaces each year for carbon monoxide leaks. 

This can be done by a furnace repair company.

➤ Install a carbon monoxide alarm (a combination smoke and CO 

alarm if possible) on each floor near bedrooms and in every room 

that has a furnace, gas or wood burning stove, oven, water heater, 

or similar appliance. If you can find one, you should install an 

alarm with sealed 10-yr batteries. A major cause of alarm failures 

is batteries being removed. Check the batteries twice a year (if the 

batteries can be removed). Carbon monoxide is lighter than air, so 

placement of the detector is important in the installation or use of 

a detector. The detector should be placed near or on the ceiling, if 

possible. Also, attached garages MUST have the entry door to the 

home interior closed and door seals working properly to keep exhaust 

gas from entering home.

Exposure to CO can be a 

major threat to you and 

your family’s health.
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➤ Don’t leave the car running in the garage, even if the door 

is open.

➤ Make sure that all gas appliances and wood burning 

stoves are ducted (vented) to the outside.

6. Has your home been checked for radon?

Radon comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of 

uranium and other radioactive elements in soil, rock, and water, and can 

get into the air you breathe. Radon is estimated to cause thousands of 

deaths each year. When you breathe air containing radon, you can get 

lung cancer.

Smokers have a higher risk from the impacts of radon. Radon typically 

moves up through the ground to the indoor air in your home through 

cracks and other holes in the foundation, basement, or crawl space. Your 

home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Testing is the only way 

to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. Some areas of the 

country have higher levels of radon than others.

Key Actions

➤ Have your home tested for radon. High levels can be dangerous! Visit 

the website https://sosradon.org/ for information on testing your home 

or how to contact a radon specialist in your area.

➤ See the Resources section in this booklet.

7. Does your home have bugs or rodents that you cannot 

get rid of?

Pests are unwanted living things in or around your home and include 

bugs or rodents that get inside. Pests may also include bed bugs which are 

small insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. Inside your 

home, mice, rats and cockroaches may trigger asthma attacks. Insects and 

rodents can also get into your food.

Mice and rats can chew on electrical wires and cause fires. Bites of rats, 

fleas, ticks and certain spiders can make your family ill. Some pests and 

bugs spread diseases. Pests travel into your home from outdoors or other 

Testing is the only way 

to know if you and your 

family are at risk from 

radon
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places and they are looking for food, water and shelter. Pests often enter 

your home through gaps or openings in walls, doors or windows, but can 

also be carried inside by pets.

Key Actions

➤ Store food (including pet food) in tightly sealed containers.

➤ Clean up after cooking and eating.

➤ Seal up cracks around exterior doors, windows, pipes, and other holes 

to the outside.

➤ Indoor pesticide use isn’t encouraged. However, if you use pesticides 

read and follow the label carefully. Do not use pesticide foggers (also 

called bug bombs) for controlling cockroaches or bed bugs. Research 

has shown that they are not effective and can be dangerous.

➤ More information on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which 

focuses on pest prevention and uses pesticides only as needed) and 

and safe pest control is available at https://www.epa.gov/pesticides 

and www.stoppests.org.

➤ See the Resources section in this booklet.

8. Are sprays, cleaners, and poisons 

 close to where children may be 

 able to reach them?

A hazardous household chemical is a product 

you use around the house that can be harmful 

or poisonous if not used properly. Deadly 

accidents can happen if products are misused, 

stored or disposed in the wrong way. Some 

hazardous products may burn or poison you.

Many household chemicals also contain 

products that are known to cause cancer 

or birth defects. Other products poison you 

when you breathe them. You might feel sick to 

your stomach, dizzy, or your eyes might water, sting or hurt. Common 

reactions are also headaches or a stuffy nose.
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Tools You Can Use

Learn as much as you can about home health and safety. 

Download the Healthy Homes Basics App at apple.com/itunes/

or play.google.com/store. This can help everyone in the family!

• Connect to resources you need

• Take quizzes to test your awareness

• Check each room in your house

Many household products 

release volatile organic 

compounds (VOCs) into

the air.

Examples of hazardous household chemicals include cleaning supplies, 

medicines, pesticides, fertilizers, polishes, glues, batteries, paint, mercury 

thermometers, oil, and gasoline.

Follow exact instructions and store properly as green cleaning supplies 

can be a health hazard if mixed or stored incorrectly.

Key Actions

➤ Use safe (non-toxic) cleaning products. If a family member is exposed 

to, breathes in, or swallows a household chemical, call the Poison 

Control Center Hotline at 1-800 222-1222. (This number may 

also be reached by people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who 

have speech disabilities, by teletype at 711.)

➤ Always keep household chemicals and medicines in their original 

containers and stored out of reach of children. You can protect children 

with plastic childproof locks on cabinets and doors.

➤ Follow the instructions on the label including wearing proper clothing 

and protection such as eye goggles and gloves.

➤ See the Resources section in this booklet.

9. Is it hard to keep your house warm in the winter or 

cool in the summer?

A healthy home has comfortable temperature and humidity levels. Older 

homes were constructed with materials and methods that are not very 

energy-efficient and can let heat escape in the winter and cool air escape
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Clean or change the air 

filters when they are 

dirty (usually every three 

months). 

in the summer. Many newer homes are built more “tightly” (less gaps and 

holes in the outside walls) and keep cool air inside during the summer and 

hot air inside during the winter.

Homes that do not have comfortable temperatures may place your 

family at increased risk from exposure to extreme cold and heat. High 

temperature and humidity in a home can make asthma, mold, and other 

indoor pollution worse, as well as general discomfort for your family.

Cold or hot conditions in the home can be especially dangerous for 

seniors and people with chronic illnesses. Homes with temperature and 

humidity control problems are often drafty, have no or little insulation in 

walls and attics, and have heating or cooling systems that need repair or 

maintenance.

Key Actions

➤ Have the heating and air conditioning systems serviced yearly by a 

qualified professional.

➤ Clean or change the air filters when they are dirty (usually every three 

months). Homes with pets or smokers should change their filters more 

often.

➤ Consider having a home energy audit from your utility company or 

local housing authority.

➤ If your home is drafty or difficult to keep at a comfortable temperature, 

look into getting it weatherized, which includes sealing cracks and 

improving insulation. Check with your local housing agency or health 

department for programs that provide this improvement.

➤ See the Resources section in this booklet.

10. What are other home safety concerns

 and hazards?

Your chances of getting hurt at home are much higher than 

at work or school. Very young children and older adults are 

the most likely to get hurt. Home safety includes reducing the 

opportunity for falls, poisonings, burns, and other injuries in 

your home.

Replace window blinds 

that have looped chords, 

which may cause 

strangulation if not stored 

or set out of the reach of 

children. ▼
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Always keep matches, 

lighters, and candles out of 

children’s reach.

Young children can get into everyday things that can poison them and 

get into places in your home that can injure them. Older adults are more 

likely to be victims of falls, and the resulting injuries can affect their ability 

to lead an active and independent life.

Key Actions

➤ Replace window blinds that have looped chords, which may cause 

strangulation if not stored or set out of the reach of children. Replace 

with cordless blinds.

➤ Keep stairs and rails in good repair and ensure they are well lit.

➤ Install window guards or window stops on upper-floor windows to 

protect children.

➤ Keep firearms unloaded and locked to keep them away from children.

➤ Safe-proof your home by following the recommendations at this 

website: https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_25474.PDF

➤ Always keep matches, lighters, and candles out of children’s reach.

➤ Make sure all medicines are stored safely away from children.

➤ Keep anything that can catch on fire away from fireplaces and all 

sources of heat.

➤ Keep your floors free of anything that may cause tripping.

➤ Store food and non-foods separately to prevent confusion and protect 

your family from container contamination and toxic spills. 

➤ According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, every 

year more than 22,000 children of 8 years and under, are killed or 

injured by “tip-overs”. To prevent, be sure to secure furniture, such as 

bookcases, old televisions, entertainment centers, and dressers, to the 

wall or floor.

➤ See the Resources section in this booklet.

Another concern for some homes is asbestos. Asbestos fibers are 

dangerous if they get into the air and residents then breathe them. The 

fibers get into the air when materials containing asbestos are damaged or 

disturbed. 

Keep your floors free of 

anything that may cause 

tripping.
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A summary of the information in this guide:

10 Ten Tips for a Healthy Home

❶ Get children under six tested for lead 

once a year. Call the National Lead 

Information Center to learn more (1-800-

424-5323). (TTY 711).

❷ Never use a gas oven or cooktop to heat 

your home.

❸ Ask your doctor about a home checklist 

for asthma triggers.

❹ Open doors and/or windows to prevent 

mold from forming.

❺ Do not allow smoking in your car or 

home.

❻ Install smoke and carbon monoxide 

detectors.

❼ Get your home tested for radon. High 

levels can be dangerous.

❽ If your house uses wells for water, test 

your water every two years.

❾ Use mattress and pillowcase covers to 

protect from dust mites.

❿ While a space heater is in use, open a 

door from the room where the heater is 

located to the rest of the house and open 

a window slightly.

Asbestos fibers are very light and easily 

carried through the air, they can be 

inhaled without a person realizing it.

Asbestos can cause serious long-term health problems 

including lung disease and cancer. Smokers have a higher 

risk from asbestos exposure due to lung damage from 

smoking. Other health hazards may include mesothelioma 

and asbestosis. These health hazards can take many years to 

develop.

Key Actions

➤ If you think your home has asbestos do not remove or 

damage the materials. Consult a licensed asbestos removal 

professional or state health office to learn more about 

options for reducing exposure.

➤ In areas with damaged asbestos, keep activities to a 

minimum and keep children out of those areas.
www.hud.gov/healthyhomes 17

A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

for Native American Families

Special Concern: 

Do You Live in A Mobile Home?

There are many options for housing, such 

as apartment rentals, single family homes, 

and townhouses. With each option, there are 

different ways in which the property is viewed. 

But what are the options for people wanting to 

own their own dwelling but cannot afford the 

cost and taxes of the land the dwelling sits on?

A manufactured, mobile, or trailer home 

is an option in this case. When you get into 

such a home, it will have been constructed in assembly line fashion 

and transported whole to the site. It is quite different than a traditional 

bottom-up built home. For instance, the floor will already have items 

attached and ‘loaded’ with such items as water/waste lines, heating 

ductwork and insulation. For energy efficiency, keep in mind that 

insulation may be fairly thin with voids of only a couple inches to fill in 

the walls.

Special Concern: 

Do You Have Elders in Your Home?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 

that one in four older adults aged 65 years or older fall each 

year. Most of these falls occur in the home.

Key Actions

➤ Install grab bars in bathrooms and toilet. Use no-slip

mats or no-slip tub stickers.

➤ Make sure there is adequate lighting throughout the house, unit, or 

building.

➤ Repair and secure loose railings and stair treads.

➤ Find temporary shelter for elderly or ill family members during 

extended periods of hot or cold indoor temperatures, if they are living 

in homes without adequate heating or cooling.
18 www.hud.gov/healthyhomes

Helping Native Americans Have Safe and Healthy Homes

When the floor is completed, it is fastened onto a steel frame for the 

foundation. You should make sure that the home is securly fastened 

to the foundation and anchored for strong wind conditions. With no 

basement or crawlspace storage, mobile homes can tend to get full of 

clutter - which brings about potential asthma triggers from dust as well 

as tripping hazards or homes for pests.

If you live in an area with heavy snowfall, there are some steps for 

winter care of your home. Remove snow regularly from the flat roof and 

inspect your walls for water marks that can occur in particularly rainy 

areas where the water can pool on the flat roof. You want to keep the 

dwelling dry, clean, and safe as with any other home.

Special Concern: 

Coping with Substance Abuse in the 

Home

Substance abuse in homes, including alcohol, 

methamphetamine (meth), and opioids, pose 

many serious dangers and can destroy lives. 

There is grave concern for the health of family 

members living in a contaminated home. 

Young children are particularly vulnerable when they crawl around 

the home. Meth labs create significant environmental hazard and are 

very expensive (in thousands of dollars) to make safer. Home buyers are 

often worried about buying a meth-contaminated house. Meth testing 

kits, from local health departments, are increasingly available to home 

buyers, renters, and many others.

Contact: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National 

Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (Teletype 711).

Meth labs create 

significant environmental 

hazard and are very 

expensive (in thousands 

of dollars) to make safer.
www.hud.gov/healthyhomes 19

A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

for Native American Families

The Path to a Healthy Home

❶ Step 1: Learn About What a Healthy Home is

 ➤ Use this guide to ask questions about your home and 

 how you live in it.

 ➤ Different steps are needed for the different areas and 

 threats.

 ➤ It is up to you to make sure your home is a healthy 

 home.

❷ Step 2: Take Action - Get a Home Assessment

 ➤ Apply healthy homes principles to your household.

 ➤ Contact housing professionals.

 ➤ Create a simple maintenance plan along with housing 

 professionals.

 ➤ One of the most important steps is keeping your home 

 dry and well ventilated.

❸ Step 3: Stay on Track

 ➤ Stick with a housekeeping plan.

 ➤ Always be looking for where improvements can be

 made in your home.

SUMMARY

This publication has provided you with lots of information about how to 

have a healthy home. Here is a simple way of tying things together:
20 www.hud.gov/healthyhomes

Helping Native Americans Have Safe and Healthy Homes

Room by Room Checklist for a Healthy Home

Take the first step! This checklist is a great way to start learning more about the conditions in 

your home that could be impacting your health and safety. You don’t have to be an expert or a 

professional to complete this list. For more information on this material and recommended actions 

please visit: https://www.hud.gov/healthyhomes or download the Healthy Homes Basics App to 

have as a resource at your fingertips whenever you are ready.

1. Living, Dining, and Family Rooms

 If the home was built before 1978, check 

painted doors, windows, trim, and walls for 

lead.

 Vacuum carpets regularly to reduce asthma 

triggers.

 Replace corded blinds with un-corded (pole) 

blinds, or move window blind cords out of 

reach of children to prevent strangulation.

 Check lighting and extension cords for fraying 

or bare wires.

 Avoid having lighting and extension cords in 

floor pathways.

 Purchase children’s toys that do not have 

small parts for choking and do not contain 

lead.

 Secure heavy items (televisions, bookcases) to 

walls to prevent tip overs.

2. Kitchen

 If the home was built before 1978, check painted 

doors, windows, trim, and walls for lead.

 Use a range hood exhausted to the outside 

(or open window) to ventilate while cooking.

 Clean up liquids and foods right after spills.

 Keep matches, glassware, knives, and 

cleaning supplies out of reach of children.

 Avoid leaving food and water out overnight. 

 Mop floors at least weekly.

 Place Poison Control Hotline number (800) 

222–1222 on the refrigerator and in every 

room (TTY 711).

 Do not allow children to be in kitchen 

unsupervised when the range or oven is on.

3. Bedroom(s)

 If the home was built before 1978, check 

painted doors, windows, trim, and walls for 

lead.

 Replace corded blinds with un-corded (pole) 

blinds, or move window blind cords out of 

reach of children to prevent strangulation.

 Make sure room has a working smoke 

detector.

 Make sure the hall outside of bedrooms has a 

working carbon monoxide detector.

 Use mattress and pillow covers, and vacuum 

carpets regularly to reduce asthma triggers.

4. Entry

 Use floor mats by entry doors to reduce 

bringing in lead dust and other toxins into the 

home.

 Remove shoes at entry if lead is present in the 

soil or paint. 

 Repair or install weather seals around the 

perimeter of doors.
www.hud.gov/healthyhomes 21

A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

for Native American Families

5. Bathrooms

 If the home was built before 1978, check 

painted doors, windows, trim, and walls for 

lead.

 Use an exhaust fan to ventilate after shower 

or bath use.

 Use slip resistant mats in showers and tubs.

 Clean up water from floors right after spills.

 Keep medicines and cleaning supplies locked 

away and out of reach of children.

 If an older adult or someone with mobility 

or balance concerns is present in the home, 

install grab bars at toilets, showers, and tubs.

6. Laundry

 Vent clothes dryer to the outside (through 

roof or wall, not into the attic).

 Keep laundry soaps and detergents out of 

reach of children.

 Wash sheets and blankets weekly to reduce 

asthma triggers.

 Regularly remove lint from dryer screen.

7. Attic

 Clean up clutter to prevent rodents and 

insects from finding places to nest.

 Check exposed attic insulation for asbestos 

and consult with an asbestos professional for 

removal.

 Make sure eave and roof vents are not 

blocked with insulation.

8. Basement (or Crawlspace)

 If the home was built before 1978, check 

painted doors, windows, trim, and walls for 

lead.

 Seal holes in walls and around windows and 

doors to keep rodents and pests out of living 

spaces.

 Clean up clutter to prevent rodents and 

insects from finding places to nest.

 Test the home for radon. If test shows 

radon above EPA action levels, seal slab and 

foundation wall cracks, and if the problem 

persists, consider installing a radon mitigation 

system.

 Keep pesticides and cleaning supplies locked 

away and out of reach of children.

 Seal all cracks in slabs and foundation walls 

for moisture, radon, and pest protection.

9. Garage

 Never run lawnmowers, cars, or combustion 

equipment inside the garage with garage 

door closed.

 Keep gasoline, pesticides, and cleaning 

supplies out of reach of children.

 Clean up oil, gasoline, and other spills 

immediately. Hardware stores sell products 

that can absorb the spill safely.

 If a floor drain is present, make sure it drains 

to well beyond the outside of the home.

10.Outside

 If the home was built before 1978, check 

painted doors, windows, trim, and walls for 

lead.

 If painted walls, doors, windows, or trim may 

contain lead, keep children away from peeling 

or damaged paint and prevent children from 

playing around the ground next to the walls. 

 Remove leaves and debris from gutters 

regularly and extend downspouts to drain 

away from the house.
22 www.hud.gov/healthyhomes

Helping Native Americans Have Safe and Healthy Homes

 Replace missing or broken shingles or 

flashings.

 Clean window wells of trash and debris. 

 Install and maintain fences completely around 

pools with openings less than 1/4 inch.

 If the home was built before 1978, check 

hardboard siding for asbestos.

 Make sure private wells are sealed and 

capped.

 Consider testing well for pesticides, organic 

chemicals, and heavy metals before you use it 

for the first time.

 Test private water supplies annually for nitrate 

and coliform bacteria.

 Do not leave open garbage containers near 

the home.

 Repair broken glass in windows and doors.

 Seal holes in walls and around windows and 

doors to keep rodents and pests out of living 

spaces.

11. General

 If the home was built before 1978, use leadsafe work practices for all renovation and 

repairs and test children in the home for lead 

exposure.

 Check piping connecting the home to the 

water main and the piping in the home for 

lead (lead pipes are dull and can be scratched 

easily with a penny). Lead pipes are more 

likely to be found in homes built before 1986.

 No smoking inside the home, especially with 

children in the same home.

 Have a professional maintain yearly all gas 

appliances and check for carbon monoxide 

leaks and proper venting.

 Do not use candles or incense in the home 

when adult supervision is not present.

 Secure balcony and stair railings, and install 

no-slip nosings.

 Replace burned-out bulbs in lights over stairs 

and landings.

 Run a dehumidifier if indoor humidity is 

above 50 percent or there is condensation on 

windows.

 Make sure all gas burning appliances, 

furnaces, heaters, and fireplaces ventilate to 

the outside.

 Replace the furnace filter with a MERV 8 or 

higher every three months.

 If mold is visible in any room, a good guide to 

safe removal can be found at https://www.

epa.gov/mold/mold-cleanup-your-home.

 Install child-proof locks on cabinets and childproof covers on electrical outlets.

 Keep water temperature at less than 120 

degrees.

 Keep firearms in locked safes.

 Use pest management recommendations or 

safer alternative products before applying 

pesticides.

 Keep all cleaning products in original 

containers and do not mix two products 

together.

 Keep all hazardous products and chemicals in 

locked cabinets away from children.
www.hud.gov/healthyhomes 23

A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

for Native American Families

Important Resources

This is a selection of a wide range of organizations, websites, and 

educational materials, that expand upon this publication. 

HUD/OLHCHH Hazard-Specific Factsheets:

➤ Asbestos: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/

risk/substances/asbestos

➤ Asthma: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/

healthyhomes/asthma

➤ Allergy: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/

healthyhomes/allergies

➤ Home Safety: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/

healthyhomes/homesafety

➤ Mold: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/

healthyhomes/mold

➤ Lead: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/

healthyhomes/lead

➤ Radon: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/

healthyhomes/radon

➤ Carbon Monoxide: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_

homes/healthyhomes/carbonmonoxide.

Interactive Healthy Homes Apps

➤ Healthy Homes Basics App - This HUD/USDA product is for the 

general public (consumers). It introduces users, in simple terms, to 

healthy homes concepts. Content also covers many ways to have a 

healthy home. Download the app at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/

healthy-homes-basics/id1092367352.

➤ Healthy Homes Youth App - This HUD/USDA product is for 

middle schoolers and helps them learn about healthy homes. 

Available at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthy-homes-youth/

id1434450117#?platform=iphone.
24 www.hud.gov/healthyhomes

Helping Native Americans Have Safe and Healthy Homes

➤ Healthy Homes Do-It-Yourself Assessment Tool - The Healthy Homes 

Do-It-Yourself Assessment Tool walks users through each room and 

provides simple, low, and no-cost solutions to many common healthy 

housing problems. https://healthyhomes.fcgov.com/.

➤ Healthy Homes Partners App - This HUD/USDA product is for 

stakeholders. It is non technical but goes beyond the above consumer 

version. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/healthy-homes-partners/

id1244368357?mt=8.

Key Hotlines

All the phone numbers below may also be reached by people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who 

have speech disabilities, by teletype at 711.

➤ Poison Control Centers, (800) 222-1222

➤ HUD and EPA National Lead Information Center, (800) 424-LEAD, 

(800) 424-5323

➤ EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline, (800) 426-4791

➤ National Pesticide Information Center, (800) 858-7378

➤ FDA, Food Safety Information Service Hotline, (888) SAFE-FOOD, 

(888) 723-33663

➤ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cigarette smoking) 

(800) QUIT-NOW, or (800) 7848-669

➤ National Radon Information (800) SOS-RADON, (800) 767-7236

➤ Window Covering Safety Council, (800) 506-4636

➤ U.S. Substance and Mental Health Service Administration/

Substance Abuse National Helpline, at (800) 662-HELP (4357)

General Safe and Healthy Homes Information Sources (for 

both the public and professionals)

➤ Your local, state, or tribal health department

➤ U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,

www.hud.gov

➤ Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes,

www.hud.gov/healthyhomes
www.hud.gov/healthyhomes 25

A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

for Native American Families

➤ Office of Native American Programs,

www.hud.gov/codetalk

➤ U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and 

Agriculture, 

www.nifa.usda.gov

➤ Cooperative Extension Service for Healthy Homes Extension 

educators,

https://nifa.usda.gov/extension or impact.extension.org

➤ National Healthy Homes Partnership,

extensionhealthyhomes.org/

➤ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

www.epa.gov

➤ U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

www.cdc.gov, (800) 232-4636

➤ U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,

www.cpsc.gov, (800) 638-2772

➤ U.S. Department of Energy,

www.energy.gov

➤ National Center for Healthy Housing, 

www.nchh.org

➤ Tribal Healthy Homes Network, 

http://thhnw.org/

➤ Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals,

http://www7.nau.edu/itep/main/Home/

➤ Children’s Environmental Health Partnership,

https://cehn.org/

➤ National Safety Council,

www.nsc.org

➤ Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units,

https://www.pehsu.net/

➤ Indian Health Service,

https://www.ihs.gov/dehs/

➤ National Tribal Air Association 

https://www.ntaatribalair.org/indoor-air-quality/

You may qualify 

for assistance with 

paying for healthy 

home related repairs 

by contacting your 

local HUD office for 

information on their 

Section 184 Indian 

Rural Development 

(RD), your local USDA 

office for information 

on their RD 504 Repair 

grants, or your local VA 

office for information 

on their Native Direct 

Loan program. 
26 www.hud.gov/healthyhomes

Helping Native Americans Have Safe and Healthy Homes

A stakeholder guide for protecting the health of children and families

Lead  

Mold and Moisture 

Asthma and Allergies 

Radon 

Carbon Monoxide 

Indoor Environmental Quality 

Unsafe Drinking Water 

Household Chemicals

Pests 

Home Safety 

Home Comfort 

Asbestos 

Everyone Deserves a

Safe and 

Healthy Home

www.hud.gov/healthyhomes

Protect the health of children and families

a consumer action guide www.hud.gov/healthyhomes

Everyone Deserves a

Safe and 

Healthy Home

OFFICE OF

LEAD HAZARD CONTROL AND HEALTHY HOMES

Healthy 

Children

Healthy

Families

Healthy

Communities

Healthy Homes Principles: The Healthy Homes Principles 

serve as a guide for addressing many of the topics discussed 

in this booklet. The Everyone Deserves a Safe and Healthy 

Home booklet summarizes the Healthy Homes Principles and 

has a room-by-room checklist:

➤ Everyone Deserves a Safe and Healthy Home, www.hud.gov/

sites/documents/safeandhealthyhome.pdf.

• For a quick but thorough overview of healthy homes,

Everyone Deserves a Safe and Healthy Home: A Consumer 

Action Guide is a 12-page booklet written for the general 

public. It outlines the eight principles of healthy housing 

and provides a useful overview of key healthy homes 

issues, including lead-based paint, asthma and allergies, 

mold and moisture, radon, household chemicals, 

pests, carbon monoxide, home safety, asbestos, home 

temperature control, and indoor air quality.

 For each issue, it provides critical action steps. It also 

includes a room-by-room checklist. 

Lead Poisoning

• The Protect Yourself from Lead in Your Home pamphlet 

was created specifically to educate homebuyers and renters 

about lead-based paint and the protections provided by 

federal law. It is available in several languages, and it walks 

through the key things a homebuyer or renter must know 

about lead-based paint, the rules that protect consumers 

from lead-based paint, and the measures people can take to 

protect themselves from lead poisoning.

Protect

Your

Family

From

Lead in 

Your

Home

United States

Environmental

Protection Agency

United States

Consumer Product

Safety Commission

United States

Department of Housing

and Urban Development

June 2017
www.hud.gov/healthyhomes 27

A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

for Native American Families

Project Director: Kitt Rodkey, MBA, HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control 

and Healthy Homes, Washington, DC

Project Coordinator: Michael Goldschmidt, AIA, LEED AP, Director – 

USDA-NIFA Healthy Homes Partnership, University of Missouri

Acknowledgements

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Lead 

Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, thanks the following individuals for 

their many valued comments and information used in the preparation of 

this publication: 

National Tribal Air Association (NTAA) Indoor Air Quality 

Work Group:

• NTAA Chairman Wilfred J. Nabahe, Chairman, and All Members of 

the Indoor Air Quality Work Group

• Ernie Grooms, Group Lead and All Members of the NTAA Indoor Air 

Quality Work Group

• Andy Bessler, Project Director, NTAA, Institute for Tribal Health 

Professionals, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona

Project Team:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Lou Witt, Program Analyst, Indoor Environments Division, 

Washington, DC

• Erin McTigue, Alaska Tribal Air Program and Tribal Indoor Air 

Program Coordinator, Region 10 

• Priyanka Pathak, Air Toxics, Radiation, and Indoor Air Office, Region 9
28 www.hud.gov/healthyhomes

Helping Native Americans Have Safe and Healthy Homes

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

• Kitt Rodkey, Senior Outreach Specialist, HUD Office of Lead Hazard 

Control and Healthy Homes 

• Dr. Peter Ashley, PhD, Director of Policy and Standards Division, HUD 

OLHCHH

• Iris Friday, Native American Program Specialist, HUD Northwest Office 

of Native American Programs, Seattle, WA

• Dr. Warren Friedman, PhD, CIH, Senior Advisor to the Director, HUD 

OLHCHH

• Karen Griego, Healthy Homes Representative, HUD OLHCHH

• Aaron J. Salkoski, HUD OLHCHH

Additional Contributors:

• Kristin Hill, Tribal Public and Environmental Health Think Tank

• Gillian Mittelstaedt, MPA, Executive Director, Tribal Healthy Homes 

Network, Issaquah, Washington

• Arthur Nash Jr., Energy Faculty and State Radon Outreach Coordinator, 

University of Alaska, Fairbanks

• Mansel A. Nelson, Senior Program Coordinator, Tribal Environmental 

Education, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, Northern 

Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

• CAPT Stephen R. Piontkowski, MSEH, REHS, Senior Environmental 

Health Officer, Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services
www.hud.gov/healthyhomes 29

A SELF HELP Guide to Healthy Homes

for Native American Families

Native American Heritage Month

Every November, we celebrate Native American 

Heritage Month. The observance recognizes 

and honors the ancestry, cultures, traditions, 

history, and contributions of Native people. Tribal 

leaders are dedicated to building strong, healthy 

Native communities that support the educational 

aspirations of their youth and economic prosperity of 

their families. 

HUD stands strong in our commitment to address 

pressing needs in Indian Country while upholding 

our government-to-government relationship. Our 

staff in the Office of Lead Hazard Control and 

Healthy Homes, and Office of Native American 

Programs work tirelessly to support Indian Tribes' 

self-determination as they develop affordable 

housing, expand homeownership opportunities, and 

address critical infrastructure needs. 

We hope that this publication will be useful to you.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Funding for this guide is provided through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture – 

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – 

Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH). 

Project Coordination provided by Michael Goldschmidt, 

University of Missouri and National Director – Healthy Homes Partnership

April 2020

Tribal Contacts: