Homeowner Pearl Baldwin poses in front of her house with her grandson.

Green & Healthy Homes Greater Syracuse

“Everything looked normal from the outside at first, but over time I began to see the house had many dangerous aspects.”

 

When Pearl Baldwin purchased her home in Syracuse, she looked forward to a safe, comfortable place for her and her grandson. She never imagined that her new home could pose a risk to their lives.

“Everything looked normal from the outside at first, but over time I began to see the house had many dangerous aspects,” said Baldwin. “It was frightening and made me feel insecure.”

During the cold months, Pearl noticed the roof was leaking onto the sidewalk when it rained or snowed, causing a slippery walkway. The foundation began to deteriorate, allowing rodents to come in and out of her home. Pearl tried her best to keep everything protected and clean for the safety of her 13-year-old grandson, but realized she was spending a lot of time, money and energy trying to patch things up by herself.

Pearl soon learned about the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative Greater Syracuse (GHHIGS), an effort that helps to improve the health, safety and energy efficiency of low- and moderate-income homes in the City of Syracuse. The hazardous condition of Pearl’s home made her a suitable candidate for the program to step in and help.

GHHIGS community partners worked to completely replace and properly seal the foundation and siding on the house, ensuring no unwanted animals could enter. Workers also installed a new roof and protected power lines to eliminate any faulty or dangerous wires. Pearl’s home will also be getting new storm doors.

“All the long hours I worked trying to fix up my home and make ends meet was taking away from the time I had to spend with my grandson,” said Pearl. “I felt like my prayers were answered when I found out about Green & Healthy Homes because now I can spend more time at home with my family, and feel safe doing so.”

According to National GHHI, nearly six million households live with moderate to severe home health and safety hazards, which place them at risk for illnesses and injuries including asthma, lead poisoning, slips and falls, and respiratory illnesses. An unhealthy home can change how somebody lives their life including absentee work days, less time with family or children missing school. Like Pearl, Syracuse residents will soon face fewer of these challenges with the help of GHHIGS’s work.

“One of our ultimate goals is to improve the safety of all people’s homes and their overall health so they can have a productive life,” said Katie Bronson, outcome broker for GHHIGS. “All of the updates to Pearl’s house complemented each other to create a holistic home and improve the health and safety of both her and her grandson.”

Related Stories

hand holding growing money
Publications September 18, 2023

Helping your Clients Get Organized: Structure Is a Critical Step in Multi-Generational Philanthropy

Learn how Jeff Knauss and his wife use their donor-advised to engage their children in ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Woman sitting with girl holding books
Blogs August 21, 2023

Unlocking Potential through Reading as A Book Buddy Volunteer

Juliet Nabinger, employee benefits senior specialist at OneGroup and Book Buddies Volunteer, shares how her ...

Family sits on porch of new home on Shuart Ave
Stories August 19, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Home HeadQuarters

A $500,000 Program Related Investment (PRI) to Home HeadQuarters (HHQ) acted as a loan loss ...

Stories August 17, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Cooperative Federal

A $250,000 secondary capital loan is helping Cooperative Federal expand lending in the Syracuse community.

Stories August 14, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Pathfinder Bank

Pathfinder Bank tells us how a $500,000 deposit at their new Southwest Branch helped serve ...

Blogs August 7, 2023

Reflections: Amplifying Voices for Equity

Juliet Maloff, senior communications officer, explains how we are shifting some of our storytelling to ...

Children looking through binoculars on Syracuse street
Publications August 1, 2023

Payment Pending: CNY Nonprofit Funding Delays From the State Level

Colby Cyrus, CAPM and Frank Ridzi, Ph.D. outline our analysis of how often New York ...

News Releases July 27, 2023

LeadSafeCNY: A Look at our Neighborhood Investments

A new heat map demonstrates the impact of our neighborhood investments so far through the ...

hand holding growing money
Publications September 18, 2023

Helping your Clients Get Organized: Structure Is a Critical Step in Multi-Generational Philanthropy

Learn how Jeff Knauss and his wife use their donor-advised to engage their children in ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Woman sitting with girl holding books
Blogs August 21, 2023

Unlocking Potential through Reading as A Book Buddy Volunteer

Juliet Nabinger, employee benefits senior specialist at OneGroup and Book Buddies Volunteer, shares how her ...

Family sits on porch of new home on Shuart Ave
Stories August 19, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Home HeadQuarters

A $500,000 Program Related Investment (PRI) to Home HeadQuarters (HHQ) acted as a loan loss ...

Stories August 17, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Cooperative Federal

A $250,000 secondary capital loan is helping Cooperative Federal expand lending in the Syracuse community.

Stories August 14, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Pathfinder Bank

Pathfinder Bank tells us how a $500,000 deposit at their new Southwest Branch helped serve ...

Blogs August 7, 2023

Reflections: Amplifying Voices for Equity

Juliet Maloff, senior communications officer, explains how we are shifting some of our storytelling to ...

Children looking through binoculars on Syracuse street
Publications August 1, 2023

Payment Pending: CNY Nonprofit Funding Delays From the State Level

Colby Cyrus, CAPM and Frank Ridzi, Ph.D. outline our analysis of how often New York ...

News Releases July 27, 2023

LeadSafeCNY: A Look at our Neighborhood Investments

A new heat map demonstrates the impact of our neighborhood investments so far through the ...

View More