Chicago Housing Authority creates Healthy Homes Division

Team of nationally recognized experts to proactively address environmental issues

CHICAGO (May 21, 2025) - The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is deepening its commitment to ensuring that residents have a safe place to call home. CHA recently announced the creation of the Healthy Homes Division, a new team dedicated to proactively addressing environmental health issues by eliminating hazards and promoting healthier living conditions for the 32,000 people living in CHA public housing. From removing environmental hazards such as lead-based paint, mold, and pests to promoting energy-efficiency and indoor air quality, the Healthy Homes Division is focused on ensuring homes are safe, preserved, and sustainable for future generations.

Elizabeth Poole, a nationally recognized expert in children’s environmental health and former coordinator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), leads the Healthy Homes Division. She’s joined by her former Chicago-based EPA colleagues Shannon Wolf and Megan Dwyer Baumann, Environmental Health & Safety Managers. 

“We’re excited to welcome an exceptionally qualified, talented, and passionate team with a depth of experience in environmental health,” said Angela Hurlock, Chicago Housing Authority Interim Chief Executive Officer. “Their ability to go a mile deep into creating healthy home solutions for our residents will ensure we’re not only providing safe homes for our residents now but preserving them well into the future.” 

The division takes a comprehensive approach to addressing lead-based paint hazards identified during inspections and supports families throughout the abatement process, including arranging for temporary relocation or other necessary services. In addition, the Healthy Homes team will connect residents with free or low-cost resources that promote holistic health and well-being, such as nutritional counseling and environmental education.

“This effort is about equipping families with the tools they need to make healthy decisions,” said Elizabeth Poole, Healthy Homes Division Director. “We have an ongoing commitment to provide resources for families to keep their homes safe and their families healthy. I live by this concept that if it’s not good enough for my child, it’s not good enough for any child.” 

The creation of the Healthy Homes division is part of CHA’s “Year of Renewal,” a dedicated effort to rebuild trust, transparency, and accountability in 2025 and beyond. CHA is taking steps to reduce barriers, enhance responsiveness, undergo long-term strategic planning, and ensure the needs of the 135,000 people it serves across all 77 Chicago community areas are effectively and equitably met.

For more information on the Healthy Homes Division and CHA’s Year of Renewal, visit CHA’s new Data and Impact Hub at https://www.thecha.org/transparency-action-cha-data-impact-hub.

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About the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA): CHA is the third largest public housing authority in the nation and the largest single owner of rental housing in Chicago. Through its public housing and voucher programs, CHA serves 135,000 people in 65,000 households across all 77 of Chicago’s community areas. CHA’s mission is to create and sustain strong communities where seniors thrive and everyone can unlock their economic power, ensuring that every neighborhood in Chicago has quality affordable housing and everyone feels welcome. For more information, visit www.thecha.org.