TULSA, OK \u2013 [April 10, 2019] \u2013\u00a0The Tulsa Health Department is bridging the gap between where residents choose living where they can afford and what they know to be healthy by developing a new housing pilot program.<\/p>\n
During a\u00a0Facebook Live\u00a0today, THD\u2019s environmental health services program announced Safe & Healthy Homes, an initiative which will incentivize property owners to have their rental properties inspected on a volunteer basis. This voluntary program is an effort to improve safe housing options in Tulsa County. Landlords are currently not required to have their residential rental properties inspected for public health nuisances, and THD will ask them to do so voluntarily.<\/p>\n
\u201cPoor housing conditions can create stress that leads to poor health outcomes,\u201d said Bernard Dindy, EHS manager.\u00a0 \u201cUnsafe conditions contribute to health problems including injuries, poor childhood development and diseases. According to the EPA, Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors with two-thirds of that in their own homes. We want to make sure that tenants are living in a safe environment without any hazardous conditions in the home to help address the social determinants of health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Safe & Healthy Homes, which kicks off today, is a program where a property owner can fill out an\u00a0online registration form\u00a0or can do so in person. A member of THD\u2019s EHS program will set up a time to come out to do the courtesy check and offer the assurance of a livable space or suggestions on how to get there.<\/p>\n
Once property owners and managers are enrolled in this voluntary incentive program, owners can register their properties and request an initial meeting. THD will conduct a courtesy inspection for the minimum acceptable level of public health and safety according to the Title 55 Property Maintenance Code. The code is intended to provide requirements addressing the public health, safety and welfare as they relate to the use and maintenance of existing structures. There is no cost for the voluntary inspection program, and the following incentives are included:
\n1.\u00a0Courtesy Safe Housing inspection once a year or between tenants
\n2.\u00a0Certificate of participation and decal for door or window
\n3.\u00a0Listed as a community partner on program website
\n4.\u00a0Courtesy phone conference to discuss complaints\/ repairs before an order is mailed
\n5.\u00a0Free lead testing for water and paint sample (one time)
\n6.\u00a0Rodent survey of property, bait station if needed\u00a0
\n7.\u00a0Registry with mosquito program, trap site and survey during season
\n8.\u00a0Registry with City of Tulsa Working in Neighborhoods (WIN) Nuisance Abatement program\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n9.\u00a0Registry with City of Tulsa Crime Prevention program<\/p>\n
The initial proposal calls for only a single walk-through by THD EHS staff member. These checks are based on an eight-point healthy home inspection for hazards such as roof leaks, carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, pests and mold. A health department inspector will perform these inspections and issue certificates last for one year after meeting requirements.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to help educate tenants and landlords with reasonable expectations when renting in hopes that we can reduce eviction rates and rental turnover,\u201d said Dindy. \u201cWorking together, both property owner and tenant, we can create this culture of healthier neighborhoods in Tulsa County.\u201d<\/p>\n
Health officials said it would be attractive to rental property owners looking to market units as healthy and looking to ensure their homes are safe for rentals. This in turn should help reduce turnover rates and bring trust and security to the landlord-tenant relationship.<\/p>\n
Dindy said of the voluntary program, \u201cIt should at least signal to people that awareness is being made for better housing efforts. Every Tulsa resident deserves a healthy home, regardless of income level, geography and lack of affordable and safe housing options.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information, call 918.595.4200 or visit\u00a0www.tulsa-health.org\/housing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TULSA, OK \u2013 [April 10, 2019] \u2013\u00a0The Tulsa Health Department is bridging the gap between where residents choose living where they can afford and what they know to be healthy by developing a new housing pilot program. During a\u00a0Facebook Live\u00a0today, THD\u2019s environmental health services program announced Safe & Healthy Homes, an initiative which will incentivize […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n