Press Contact:
Christina M. Hardin-Dirksen
Chief of Community Relations, DSHA
Phone: (888) 363-8808
Email: Christina@destatehousing.com
DSHA Residents Celebrate Healthy Homes Launch
October 15, 2014 – (Dover, DE) – Residents of the Liberty Court community in Dover joined Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) Director Anas Ben Addi, Sherani Patterson, Population Health Manager at Nemours, and Cassandra Codes-Johnson, Delaware Division of Public Health’s Director of Community Health to celebrate the kick-off of the Healthy Homes Initiative. Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen, Senator Brian Bushweller, and Representative Darryl Scott were also on hand for the festivities. The initiative promotes Safe Cleaning, which is designed to reduce asthma-related hospitalization by educating residents on asthma awareness, safe cleaning techniques, and pest management. The event featured face-painting for the children, refreshments, and the 4-H Club distributed raffle tickets for door prizes.
4-H Club members, left to right: Alyssa Kline, Kahnyah Freeman and Staja Jones
“A healthy home is important, especially for children who may be more susceptible to illness,” said Director Ben Addi. “DSHA’s mission is providing opportunities for safe, affordable housing. Part of that mission includes promoting healthy homes, and this training will give the families the tools they need to create and maintain an environment free of common contaminants. We want the children to learn healthy habits so they can pass them down to their children.”
“As a grant supporting partner with Nemours, the Delaware Division of Public Health’s Office of Healthy Environments provides Nemours staff and their community partners consultation, education, and outreach on practical methods to reduce environmental triggers of asthma, such as comprehensive training for Nemours’ personnel associated with this project and for Nemours’ medical and community partners. We congratulate the Delaware State Housing Authority on this initiative and look forward to working with you in the future,” added Cassandra Codes-Johnson.
Healthy Homes Pre-Launch Event
Sherani Patterson stated, “It is exciting to see this great partnership with HUD, Delaware State Housing Authority, Nemours, and Public Health leverage healthy homes messaging and asthma education to unite health and housing in a way that improves overall health outcomes for kids and their families.” Families will receive a free cleaning supply kit following the upcoming official training. For more information about Healthy Homes, please visit http://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/hsp/healthyhomes.html.
Families will receive a free cleaning supply kit following the upcoming official training. For more information about Healthy Homes, please visit http://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/hsp/healthyhomes.html.
View more photos of the event at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/destatehousing/sets/72157648385679847/.
About the Delaware State Housing Authority
The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it is also serves as a Public Housing Authority and acts as a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own, and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call: (302) 739-4263 or visit our website at: www.destatehousing.com.