Uncas Health District Offers Free Healthy-Home Inspections

Patrick McCormack puts it this way: “We want to tell people not to fall off the ladder. If they fall off the ladder, it’s too late.”

The tongue–in-cheek remark made by the director of the Uncas Health District is an analogy to a new program that is designed to prevent problems in single-family homes and apartments that otherwise could create serious health or safety consequences.

The health district has received a $9,500 grant from the state Department of Public Health that encourages residents to invite an inspector into their homes to warn them of problems, or potential problems, that need to be addressed.

The health district is composed of Montville, Bozrah, Griswold, Lisbon, Norwich, Sprague and Voluntown.

Devon Thornton, the inspector for the “healthy homes” program, wants residents to understand the health district doesn’t have any enforcement powers and the sole goal is to educate and protect.

“We want people to know that when we come into their homes that we’re not the law,” Thornton said. “We inspect and we make recommendations.”

McCormack agrees. “We’re a second set of eyes that sees things that might otherwise have gone unnoticed," he says. "If someone moved into a house 25 or 30 years ago, they might not even recognize that there’s a problem.”

When Thornton goes into a home, he goes over a long checklist that deals with such issues as bedbugs and cockroaches, lead-based paint, asbestos, faulty wiring, radon, trash removal and mold.

The program started in December and, according to Thornton, there have been only eight inspections – and none in Montville. The Uncas district wants people to know that the pilot program – available in only three of 20 health districts statewide – exists and is provided at no charge.

Most of the inspections have found only minor problems. There was one home, however, that had exposed wiring, lead-based paint and mold, according to Thornton. He said the wiring presented a significant hazard and that the homeowners quickly corrected it, possibly preventing a serious fire.

The health district is well prepared when it comes to dealing with housing issues. It has done so for years. In fact, McCormack said the district has responded to more than 10,500 complaints and reports of housing-related problems since 1988. He estimated the agency spends about 25 percent of its time and effort dealing with housing matters.

The health district has been reactionary in responding to complaints. The pilot program, McCormack said, is to reverse the process – to deal with issues pro-actively before serious health and safety issues are reported.

McCormack said residents want peace of mind living in their homes. “What some people want is for someone to come into their homes and verify what they already think.”

Some of the recommendations are designed to help the elderly. For instance, checking to see whether handrails are along stairwells and that there are “grab bars” in bathrooms.

“One fall for an older person can mean an end to an independent lifestyle,” McCormack said. “It could mean a nursing home.”

McCormack, describing how his agency has dealt with serious housing complaints, said the first action is to recommend voluntary compliance. Most landlords of apartments respond positively, he said, but some cases are referred to the town or city building official or fire marshal. As a last resort, matters are resolved in Housing Court.

But enforcement isn’t what the healthy homes project is all about.

 “We want people to feel comfortable with us coming in,” McCormack said.

 Thornton said a majority of the eight inspections have been in homes occupied by residents over age 55. But it is available to anyone regardless of age, whether they own or rent, or whether they are rich or poor.

 Anyone who wants their home inspected should contact Devon Thornton at 860-823-1189, extension 117 or email him at dthornton@uncashd.org.