HUD Announces 2023 Secretary's Award Winner for Excellence in Healthy Homes

Awardee's efforts in Wisconsin homes focus on reducing lead paint hazards and enhancing asthma education, ensuring a healthier environment for children.

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Wisconsin’s Healthy Housing Initiatives Portfolio (WHHIP) as the winner of the 2023 HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Healthy Homes. Healthy housing is the foundation for strong, vibrant communities and their residents. The award offers an exceptional opportunity to recognize the program or project best creating and sustaining healthier home environments.

“Wisconsin’s Healthy Homes Initiatives Portfolio improved the lives of children with asthma and those threatened by lead exposure in Wisconsin,” said Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “Through collaboration, evidence-based policy, and strong commitment to sustainability, this project stood out in a large group of worthy nominations.”

WHHIP, a project within Wisconsin’s Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health developed and launched initiatives to decrease residential lead paint hazards for at-risk populations and implement in-home asthma education and low-cost home modifications in the homes of Wisconsin children.

For the first time, HUD chose to give the Secretary’s Award to a single organization. This award recognizes a project or program that has made extraordinary impacts in their locality through innovative solutions which are replicable with quantifiable health, economic, and/or societal outcomes.

Established in 2015, the Award highlights innovative approaches, best practices, policies, research, and community engagement that make significant contributions to reduce exposure to health risks, environmental hazards, and substandard housing, especially in resource-limited communities.

Plans for the 2024 competition will be announced during the National Healthy Homes Conference portion of the Building Performance Association’s National Home Performance Conference and Trade Show, April 8-11, 2024, in Minneapolis, MN.