| The most straightforward and morally compelling
reason for protecting children from adverse effects of health hazards in
their homes is that every child should have the opportunity to reach their
full potential and make an undiminished contribution to society. But beyond
their significant impact on human health, housing-related health hazards
have a broad, adverse impact on communities, physically, economically, and
in other ways. The substandard housing conditions that typically result
in significant health hazards, and the effects of exposures to these hazards,
contribute directly and indirectly to community blight, economic hardship,
reduced capacity of residents, and diminished public safety. Conversely,
policies and programs that successfully address such hazards can strengthen
communities in far-reaching ways.
The social costs of health hazards in homes range from the ripple effects
of adverse health impacts to economic impacts and reduced quality of life.
The ripple effects of adverse health impacts include behavior problems,
diminished school readiness and performance, school and employment absenteeism,
increased costs for special education, higher dropout rates, higher health
care costs, increased burdens on public health agencies, lower productivity,
increased delinquency and criminality, and reduced lifetime earnings.
Among the economic impacts on the community are a stunted tax base which
shortchanges schools and other public services, housing abandonment and
demolition, diminished supply of decent and affordable housing, and increased
liability insurance costs. Quality of life and community pride are reduced
due to blight, dangerous vacant lots and vacant buildings, degraded environmental
conditions, and potential incentives for landlords to illegally discriminate
against children.
Housing-related health hazards are widespread in the US and tend to be
heavily concentrated in particular communities. Because low-income communities
and communities of color are much more likely to contain substantial pockets
of substandard housing, they are at a dramatically elevated risk for effects
associated with indoor environmental hazards. Lead poisoning and asthma,
two of the most widespread and serious diseases related to substandard
housing, have devastating impacts on affected families in lower-income
communities. The diminished human potential associated with these diseases
falls on the very children who can least bear additional disadvantages
and is at once a cause and effect of persistent poverty.
Society at large also pays a high price for these illnesses. According
to a February 2000 report of the President’s Task Force on Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children, the cost over the next ten
years in reduced lifetime earnings of children affected by lead exposure
is expected to be about $22 billion. The US EPA estimates that the one-year
direct and indirect cost of asthma to the US economy is $14 billion. Clearly,
solving these problems will result in significant savings to taxpayers
as medical and special education costs are lowered and productivity is
increased.
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