As one of our series of “Legacy Interviews”, here’s a conversation with Matt Ammon, Director of HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes

He has worked there for over 25 years to develop programs to eliminate childhood lead poisoning and to address housing conditions that threaten the health of residents. Mr. Ammon has led the development of robust grant programs and other initiatives to support local efforts to address environmental hazards in the home. To that end, these efforts have been instrumental in decreasing the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels nationwide and preventing injuries and illnesses from unhealthy housing conditions.

Mr. Ammon has been instrumental in leading the Department to address housing conditions that threaten heath by authoring HUD’s Healthy Homes Strategic Plan, and led a federal interagency workgroup to develop Advancing Healthy Housing – A Strategy for Action, which aligns goals and priorities from numerous federal agencies to create healthier housing.

Mr. Ammon’s contributions are also seen on the Federal Radon Action Plan, the Coordinated Federal Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Asthma Disparities, the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Healthy Housing, and the National Prevention Council’s National Prevention Strategy.