ALX Breathes began as a pilot study collaboration between Alexandria Health Department (AHD) and Inova Health Systems. AHD and Inova staff supported pilot participants with breathing issues like asthma and COPD to address any home condition challenges that were harming their respiratory health. Participants completed a personal health and home assessment at the beginning and end of the study and received an air monitor to measure the amount of particulate matter in their home. These tools measured any changes to the participant’s health as well as their air quality during the 6-month study period. Each home then received a high-quality portable air filter, cleaning supplies, education about how to deal with specific home conditions, and referrals to other community programs that could address other issues that were found during the initial assessment. The pilot was completed in fall of 2022 and the study data is being collated and analyzed to inform the permanent program. The final data will be published on this page when available.

Everyone deserves access to healthy and safely hazard-free housing. Unfortunately, not everyone in our community can count on that right being a reality, particularly our lower-income residents, those with disabilities, seniors, and communities of color. Equity and the conditions for healthy housing cannot be created overnight, but together, we can make meaningful changes that improve residents’ quality of life in just a few years. Community partners and residents have shared their experience and expertise around this topic to help create a roadmap for the next year of healthy housing initiatives . While the plan lays out the strategies for 2023, we need your help to get it done. Email healthmatters@vdh.virginia.gov to get involved in this work.

The Alexandria Health Department worked with the National Center on Healthy Housing to review local healthy homes policy, program, and data assets and gaps in Alexandria. Read the report here and find the detailed code analysis here. This report showed that while the city has some resources to deal with the challenges around home-related health conditions, we needed to do more to coordinate those efforts and truly address the root causes of poor health. The Action Plan for 2023 is the next step in this work to coordinate existing resources and partners for systemic change.

Why does air quality matter?

Most people spend a lot of time indoors, particularly during the pandemic. Prolonged exposure to indoor air pollutants is associated with a wide range of poor health outcomes, from headaches and dry eyes to cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. 

What is particulate matter?

Particulate matter is a mixture of solid and/or liquid particles within the air. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and in some cases cause serious health effects.

Where does particulate matter come from?

Indoor particulate matter can be created through cooking, combustion activities (including burning of candles, use of fireplaces, use of unvented space heaters or kerosene heaters, cigarette smoking) and other activities.

Links to other resources about air quality: 

• https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm
• https://nchh.org/information-and-evidence/learn-about-healthy-housing/healthy-homes-principles/