Healthy Homes

Worker Institute-led training in Buffalo is part of a project chosen to receive a new federal award for excellence with public partners in housing and community development.

The award for Buffalo's Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, which teaches people how to identify and mitigate household hazards such as indoor pollution, was made by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Council on Foundations.

Nellie Brown, director of Cornell's Workplace Health and Safety Program and a Worker Institute associate, developed the two-day course that is the heart of the Buffalo program.

She also teaches the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative course, which includes topics such as heating, cooling, ventilation, household contaminants, and reducing allergy and asthma triggers.

The Buffalo program is one of 15 around the country operating through the National Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, a partnership between the federal government, national and local philanthropy, the National Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning and local partners.

In coordinating the workshops, Arthur Wheaton, also a Worker Institute associate, collaborates with environmental, community and workforce development organizations; government agencies, building trade unions and employment agencies.

In congratulating the 10 winners of the national award, Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Maurice Jones said the awardees created positive change "by bringing together public and private partners to find lasting solutions to the issues facing our diverse communities."

The Worker Institute at Cornell, based at the ILR School, is a broad forum for research and education on contemporary labor issues. The institute applies innovative thinking and a problem-solving approach to the workplace, economy and society.