Connecticut Coalition for
Environmental Justice

Healthy Homes: Taking Down Bridgeport's
Asthma and Lead Poisoning Problems

Asthma and its related difficulties often have a base in poverty conditions. Low-income parents who are forced to make ends meet often overlook their own asthma symptoms in order to provide for their children. Poor people are more apt to live in antiquated housing infested with dust and cockroaches, both asthma triggers and risk factors. These facts present a special concern for Bridgeport where 18% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

Lead poisoning is a major health issue of concern in the city also. Lead poisoning rates in the city are much higher than in surrounding, middle class communities. The lead problem seems closely tied to the high local asthma rates as well. Bridgeport CARE has developed GIS maps that show that the city housing with lead poisoning issues tends to coincides with where city children with asthma live.

Bridgeport's asthma and lead poisoning problems prompted CCEJ to undertake our Bridgeport Showcase project. Supported by an EPA Showcase Community grant, CCEJ is bringing together city organizations and a state program related to asthma and lead poisoning prevention to focus on Bridgeport's asthma and lead poisoning problems. CCEJ is working to coordinate referrals between its asthma home visitation program, the state's Putting on AIRS Program, and lead poisoning outreach by Bridgeport city organizations. Our goals is  to share resources in a new Healthy Homes Program that will optimize our outreach to the city.

CCEJ plans to train our members about the new Healthy Homes program and have them speak to the community-at-large on asthma, lead poisoning, and mold. Our members will  pass out brochures to refer people to Healthy Homes. We hope to help improve health outcomes for 15 Bridgeport families with children who suffer from asthma through this effort.