It was a sight that quickly repeated itself Tuesday morning: a truck full of air purifiers, a single gloved and masked non-profit employee, and tears of relief as an Independence Heights homeowner received one of the first air quality packages provided by Rebuilding Together Houston (RTH) as part of their Air Quality Intervention program. 

Streets apart, Maxine and Jo Anne may not know each other but they share so much: the same heartaches of dealing with a home flooded by Harvey, the same lack of resources that prevented them from repairing their homes, the same journey to a sense of normalcy as a result of the free repairs provided by RTH.

Now a new threat has completely shattered that normalcy: the advent of the novel coronavirus. Their age and location in one of Harris County’s poorest neighborhoods means that Maxine and Joanne are also a part of the population most vulnerable to the coronavirus--along with virtually all of the homeowners Rebuilding Together Houston has served over the years. 

Taking the recommendations from the CDC for increasing ventilation/airflow to keep families safer in their homes, RTH has modified their Air Quality Intervention program to focus on no-contact distribution of air purifiers and box fans with the goal of improving respiratory health while easing the burden on already overburdened emergency care. The original program, funded by the Albert & Margaret Alkek Foundation, was created to help Harvey-impacted families maintain safer indoor air quality by installing interior upgrades: ceiling fans, window AC units, and air purifiers. Families receiving the modified program will be offered the rest of the interventions once RTH staff can safely re-enter homes.

The program officially launched this week as homeowners began to receive their packages in Independence Heights. Each package includes one air purifier with a re-washable, permanent air filter and two box fans to assist with air flow within the home. Never entering the house and maintaining non-contact with the homeowner the entire time, an RTH staff member in CDC recommended PPE delivers the package with instructions. In concert with the delivery, a staff member from the nonprofit calls the homeowner to discuss proper usage of the equipment. All communication is done over the phone. 

Even though the program is currently restricted to homeowners who have received Harvey repairs, need is quickly outstripping supply. Due to the epidemic, supplies of air purifiers have been depleted. Rebuilding Together Houston is turning to the Houston community--they need more air purifiers to help more families.

If you know of any company or individual that has an inventory of new air purifiers with permanent, washable filters (ideally models similar to Honeywell models HFD-230BVI, HDF-120Q, or HD123GHDV3) please call Rebuilding Together Houston at (713) 659-2511 or email them at info@rebuildinghouston.org.