Nonprofit Improves Homes For Kids With Respiratory Illnesses

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, FL - From Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay: Hillsborough County has a higher prevalence of childhood asthma than state and national rates. Single mother Anastasia Saunders and her young sons Bryant, 11, and Trevon, 8, know the impact of asthma and allergies firsthand. Through the Healthier Homes for Children initiative, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay (RTTB), along with the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, the Tampa Bay Asthma Coalition, and Booz Allen Hamilton, are working to make homes safer and healthier for families like the Saunders.

On Saturday, March 30, Rebuilding Together staff and volunteers from Booz Allen Hamilton are completing repairs and improvements to the Saunders’ home. During this day-long building project, RTTB will showcase the impact of home improvements made to help the children live and breathe easier in the home. This project also kicks-off National Rebuilding Month, an annual month-long call to service.

The Healthier Homes for Children Project Day will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4211 E. Clifton Street, Tampa.

RTTB Board President Anthony Baldo and Executive Director Jose Garcia, Director of Programs Maria Negron from the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, Greg Rivera from Booz Allen Hamilton, Beth Ash from the Tampa Bay Asthma Coalition, and homeowner Anastasia Saunders will be on site.

Healthier Homes for Children is a part of RTTB’s broader Safe and Healthy Homes for Families Program, which is primarily funded by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. This innovative program offers home repairs at no cost to income-eligible homeowners with children impacted by allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, living in Hillsborough County, which includes the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City. The goals of Healthier Homes for Children are to mitigate household allergy and asthma triggers, reduce the number of asthma-related doctor/ER visits, minimize the number of missed school days/work due to allergies and asthma, and decrease overall stress for the family.

“Medicine alone is not sufficient to control asthma episodes in the home ," said Garcia . " We are taking a holistic approach to creating healthier communities. Our partners in the medical field address the illness and refer clients us, we make the house structure healthier, and our home-health education partners show the family how to maintain a healthy home going forward. Together, we are able to strengthen capacity to promote and sustain healthier homes for children.”

“One of the Children’s Board focus areas is for families to be healthy and safe, our investment will prevent and alleviate adverse health conditions in an innovative way ," said Negron.

Anastasia Saunders was referred to RTTB by the nurse at her sons’ elementary school. Her son Bryant has been diagnosed with asthma and son Trevon suffers from allergies.

“God bless you and thank you," said Saunders. "This will impact my kids ' present and future. I’m looking forward to having a normal routine in the mornings without constant sneezes and have my children happy and able to go to school. This program will benefit many others as well.”

While RTTB addresses the asthma triggers in the house, the Tampa Bay Asthma Coalition works with the families to provide home health education. Beth Ash of the Tampa Bay Asthma Coalition said, “The work RTTB is doing for the Saunders family will allow the boys to enjoy more symptom - free days, which means fewer missed school days, better sleep, and will improve their overall quality of life. Tampa Bay Asthma Coalition is excited to support these efforts with education for families to manage their asthma in simple and realistic terms.”

“We’re excited to be part of this project ," said Greg Rivera, community partnership lead from Booz Allen Hamilton . " Helping a young family with medical issues brings our community volunteer work to a whole new level. It touches our hearts because many of us have kids.”

Homeowners interested in assistance available through RTTB’s Safe and Healthy Homes for Families Program can apply online at www.rttb.org.