City of Memphis Joins GHHI Network

Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) is excited to welcome the City of Memphis into their network of cities, counties, and states who are taking proactive measures to ensure healthy housing is made available to families and children living in underserved communities.

“Safe and healthy housing is a building block that too many of us take for granted and too many others struggle to achieve,” said Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. “Thank you, not only as mayor of the city of Memphis, but I want to thank all the partners… for stepping up and helping these young people. I’m so proud to be a member of this partnership and I look forward to great outcomes.”

City of Memphis Director of Housing and Community Development, Paul Young; and President of Le Boneheur Children’s Hospital, Meri Armour also spoke to the significant value of joining the GHHI family, which will be instrumental in strengthening the city’s goal to break the link between unhealthy housing and unhealthy children.

GHHI strives to provide every child, family and senior with access to an affordable, healthy home. The signing of this proclamation further highlights the city’s steadfast and committed approach to addressing this goal and the needs of low-income residents on matters concerning their health.

“We are beginning today, real work for real results for kids who will never know our names, but who will get to a classroom and will learn better and compete better, and will put Memphis even greater on the rise,” said President and CEO of Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, Ruth Ann Norton. “This vision is about where we will be five years from now for the 35% of the community that has hazards in their home.”

In September, the city also hosted GHHI for their annual conference providing the team with a firsthand opportunity of their work-to-date and the latest improvements to homes.

GHHI is inspired by the commitment of the city and county leaders; and the civic and nonprofit leaders giving us confidence in Memphis’ ability to achieve its vision as a national leader in healthy, safe and energy efficient homes. Now the real work of implementation begins!