The Healthy at Home Act of 2023 is a comprehensive federal effort to tackle indoor mold problems in homes, particularly in federally-assisted housing. The bill recognizes that mold can cause serious health issues—especially for children, seniors, and low-income families—and creates a coordinated government response to study, prevent, and fix the problem.

First, the bill requires federal agencies to conduct a thorough three-year study on how mold affects people's health, what the best ways are to detect and remove it, and how it disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities. Based on this research, agencies will develop national standards for mold inspection, removal, and prevention that can be used across the country. The bill also creates a mapping system to identify areas with known mold problems in federally-assisted housing, updated yearly so officials know where to focus efforts.

The bill then puts teeth into enforcement by requiring landlords who receive federal housing assistance to maintain safe, mold-free conditions. If properties fail inspections, landlords face serious consequences: the government can replace management, reduce or cut off rental assistance payments, transfer the property to a new owner, or even freeze rent increases until problems are fixed. Tenants are protected from displacement during this process. The bill also provides $250 million in grants and low-interest loans to help property owners actually fix mold and other health hazards, with at least 30 percent of funds going to the poorest communities. Finally, the EPA and HUD will launch a public education campaign to teach people about mold dangers, prevention, and their rights to safe housing.