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Collaboration and Partnerships
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Affordable Housing
Office of Pesticide Programs
Geographic location or area of activity: Nationwide
Description of activity: EPA works closely with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the National Center for Healthy Housing to promote effective and environmentally sound pest management practices in low income housing. According to HUD, more than half of the residents in public housing and Section 8 properties report having problems with rodents and insects indoors. By promoting a holistic approach to pest management that identifies and attempts to eliminate conditions that lead to infestations, rather than relying exclusively on chemical controls, we are helping the affordable housing community achieve effective and sustainable pest management that minimizes residents' exposure to pests and pesticides. In FY 2007, accomplishments included:
- Worked with the National Center for Healthy Housing to promote the delivery of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training through two courses. A one-day course was delivered to over 100 participants and a two-day course was offered to almost 1,000 participants.
- Developed a variety of tools to facilitate the transition from standard pest management practices to IPM.
- Launched a national IPM in Housing web site: http://www.healthyhomestraining.org/ipm/
- Worked with EPA's Office of Air and Radiation and EPA's Region 1 office to host a half-day Urban IPM Summit featuring speakers from academe, public health, and non-profit sectors.
- Moderated a national "webinar" on healthy homes, attended by over 200 nationwide.
- Worked with HUD to incorporate IPM into their new Mark-to-Market Initiative by providing IPM training to HUD staff responsible for implementing this program.
- Worked with the CDC Healthy Homes goal action team to incorporate IPM into CDC's "National Action Plan for Healthy Homes."
- Worked with HUD to extend their Guidance on IPM, nationwide for affordable housing http://www.healthyhomestraining.org/ipm/HUD_Guidance.htm
- Worked with the American Lung Association to update a video primer on residential IPM techniques entitled, "Controlling Cockroaches in your Home: Healthy Tips for Those with Asthma."
- Carried out a month long campaign in the Hispanic media to raise awareness of the link between health and housing with a focus on IPM in the home, reaching 33 million Hispanics in the U.S and 16 million in Latin America.
- Worked with the National Safety Council to develop a "Poison Prevention Community Action Kit," containing more than 200 items on pesticide poison prevention for use by community-based organizations, health educators, and others working on poison prevention campaigns.
Interagency partners: U.S. Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, EPA's Regions 1 and 5, EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection
Local partners: American Lung Association, National Safety Council, National Center for Healthy Housing
Activity URL: http://www.healthyhomestraining.org/ipm/index.htm