San Diego Tackles Bugs And Mold With CSI Technology

August 2, 2008

News 8 KFMB - San Diego,CA*

07-31-08

Cockroaches, lead-based paint and broken glass - you name it, a new

City of San Diego program will fix the problem free of charge, and

they'll do it using a CSI style. City crews are using high-tech

tools to repair low-income homes.

Outside the home, it's the usual repairs - broken glass, missing

screens, weather-worn paint. But inside the home, it's a different

and more dangerous story. Smoke detectors are missing, and

inspectors are using high-tech tools to locate other household

hazards.

A $5,000 camera helps find moisture in the home that's leading to a

serious mold problem inside the children's bedroom.

One reason Cecilia Duarte's family qualified for this free program

is because her three-year-old daughter suffers from allergies, so

the mold must be removed.

" It's a big problem. Mold is bad for your lungs and if you want to

live in a home, you've got to be mold-free, " Connie Villareal of

Urban Corps said.

The CSI-style inspection continues with a $20,000 x-ray fluorescent

spectrometer. This tool tests for lead-based paint, and helped

locate several hazardous areas now under repair.

" Our goal is to make a difference in at least 225 family homes and

maybe more, " Healthy Homes project manager Alan Johanns said.

For the next three years, his team hopes to spend $1 million worth

of federal money, helping San Diego kids lead healthier lives.

A carbon monoxide test proves negative, but a vacuum sample detects

dust mites and cockroaches, all of which have to go.

Repair crews will be working on the home for three full days with

follow-ups for pest control and a thorough cleaning, all of it at no

cost to the Duarte family.

If you have a family of four with a household income of less than

$62,000, you may qualify for the Healthy Homes project. For more

information, call their hotline at (858) 694-7000.

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