Western Maine Community Action (WMCA) is pleased to announce the launch of its newest pilot program aimed at improving health outcomes across Franklin County. Thanks to a generous grant from the Maine Cancer Foundation, WMCA will pilot a Healthy Home Evaluation (HHE) program designed to identify, educate about, and address health hazards caused by unsafe or unhealthy living conditions.

The Healthy Home Evaluation program will serve as both a stand-alone service and a complement to WMCA’s existing home repair and weatherization efforts. As part of this initiative, WMCA is in the process of training and certifying three staff members through the Building Performance Institute (BPI) to become Healthy Home Evaluators. Once certified, these staff will begin conducting in-home assessments and providing education and resources to help families in Franklin County create safer, healthier living environments. This science-based approach has been proven to reduce exposure to cancer-causing agents, chronic illness triggers, and asthma-related hazards.

“If weatherization alone can do what it did for me, imagine what’s possible when the health of the home is looked at even more deeply,” shared one Franklin County resident. “Mold, poor air quality, unsafe conditions—these are silent threats, especially for people already struggling with health issues. A program like this could help so many people before things get worse.”

Maine Cancer Foundation’s grant is offered as part of their ongoing efforts to reduce cancer incidence and mortality in Maine. They have invested over $18 million since 2015 in support of cancer prevention, early detection and screening, and access to care for all Mainers. To learn more about Maine Cancer Foundation, visit mainecancer.org, or contact Katelyn Michaud at [email protected] or (207)773-2533.

For more information about WMCA’s Healthy Home Evaluation program, contact Dustin Richards at [email protected] or visit wmca.org.