Healthy Homes

Healthy Homes is a free indoor air quality program for Fort Collins residents. It reduces pollutants, improves energy efficiency and promotes safety. Staff, volunteers and partner groups work together to improve health and home safety for all Fort Collins residents. We focus on those most impacted by climate change and poor air quality. This includes people with breathing problems, low-income households, seniors, children, people of color and mobile home park residents.

There are two ways to get a healthier and safer home:

• Request an in-home assessment by completing an intake form.
• Complete an online Do-It-Yourself assessment of your home.

Request In-Home Assessment

Online DIY Assessment

This webpage is not intended to be a source of medical or legal advice. For medical matters, please contact a medical professional. For legal matters, please contact a licensed attorney.

What Happens During an In-Home Assessment?

A team of volunteer Healthy Homes Educators will walk through your home with you. They will find causes of indoor air pollution and safety concerns. You will get personalized recommendations, resources like smoke alarms and portable air cleaners and access to additional services like furnace cleanings and weatherization. Assessments take 1-2 hours. All resources and services are free!

Who Can Participate?

In-home assessments are open to all homes with a Fort Collins address. Online DIY assessments are open to anyone, anywhere.

Questions?

Email healthyhomes@fortcollins.gov or call 970-416-2832.

Volunteers

Volunteers are vital to our Healthy Homes program.

Healthy Homes Educators improve the health, safety and environmental impact of Fort Collins homes by conducting indoor air quality assessments. They complete an initial training and can attend continuing education events. Time Commitment: After training, we ask educators to do at least one assessment per month. Home assessments take 1-2 hours, plus travel time.

Neighborhood Connectors make sure the Healthy Homes program reaches those who would benefit most. These volunteers visit neighborhoods and help residents understand and sign up for the program.

Volunteer Application

Mold

Mold is common in households. Learn about the causes, impacts and solutions for mold below. Note: The Healthy Homes Program does not test for mold. If you are interested in testing, please use a professional service.

What is mold and what causes it?

Mold is a common term for fungi found everywhere in nature. Mold spores are in the air and on surfaces in your home. They grow when they touch wet or moist surfaces. They form mold colonies that we can see. Signs of mold include:

• Water stains
• Bubbling, cracking, or peeling on walls, floors, windows, ceilings or other areas
• Fuzzy or slimy patches of discoloration
• Musty odor
• Visible leaks

What are the impacts of mold in my home?

Scientists are still learning about how different types and amounts of mold affect health; however, they have documented common health effects for people exposed to moldy environments. Molds can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks, skin or eye irritation, and other health issues. Children, older adults, people with breathing conditions and pregnant people are especially affected (National Institute of Health).

How can I prevent mold?

You cannot eliminate all mold and mold spores from your home. But mold cannot grow without water or dampness. Keeping your home dry is the best way to prevent mold problems. Keep these areas especially dry: wall interiors, crawl spaces, carpeting, under sinks, around windows and doors, and counter surfaces. Mold grows easily in these areas. Keep your home dry by running fans when showering and cooking, cleaning up spills, checking for and fixing leaks, and making sure downspouts send rainwater away from your home's foundation.

I have mold in my home. What should I do?

First, find and eliminate the source of moisture. If the moldy area is less than 10 square feet, you can likely clean it yourself using EPA guidance. 

If the affected area is larger than 10 square feet, you may need professional mold removal services. The City of Fort Collins cannot recommend a specific company or contractor for this work.

Note for renters and landlords: In Colorado, the Warranty of Habitability states that landlords must ensure their property does not have mold growth that could harm tenant health or safety. Tenants must make sure mold growth is not caused by their actions, such as not using a bathroom exhaust fan. More information on Warranty of Habitability and mold can be found here.