Cook County Celebrates Completion of Healthy Homes for Healthy Families Program

Healthy Homes for Healthy Families supports suburban Cook County families by providing free safety, energy efficiency, water conservation and whole-home upgrades.

COOK COUNTY, IL— Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle joined the County’s Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES), Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) and Elevate Energy (Elevate) today to celebrate the completion of Healthy Homes for Healthy Families, a $29 million program that provides free whole-home upgrades to suburban Cook County families. The program has completed upgrades to 325 homes since its launch in January 2024 and will complete upgrades to 357 homes in total by September 30, 2026.

“By combining lead abatement, water conservation, deep energy retrofits and electrification, this innovative program delivers comprehensive improvements that maximize benefits for residents while minimizing disruption to their daily lives. These investments make homes healthier, safer and more affordable, while helping families reduce their energy costs,” said President Preckwinkle. “I am grateful to DES, CCDPH and Elevate for their continued commitment to improving the health, safety and well-being of residents by making homes more energy efficient and utilities more affordable for families across suburban Cook County.”

Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Healthy Homes for Healthy Families tackled home health hazards that can have adverse effects on residents of all ages but can be especially dangerous for infants and children. The program addressed lead, radon, mold and other home health hazards to help keep families safe and healthy. Residents received upgrades such as lead abatement, structural repairs, water conservation upgrades, weatherization and installation of high-efficiency appliances. All upgrades were performed by licensed contractors.

"Lead poisoning can cause lifelong problems with growth, learning, behavior and even increase the risk of conditions such as anemia, high blood pressure and heart disease. In suburban Cook County, an estimated one in five homes contains lead, making prevention and early detection critically important,” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer, Cook County Department of Public Health. “Early testing allows us to identify children who have been exposed and connect families with the care and support they need, while programs like Healthy Homes for Healthy Families help eliminate lead hazards at their source.”

Healthy Homes for Healthy Families was available at no cost to eligible residents, either owner or renter, of single family and multi-family up to four-unit residential buildings in suburban Cook County. The program was open to residents earning up to 120% of the area median income who reside in a high-risk zip code for pediatric lead poisoning or in a disadvantaged census tract defined by the federal government.

“Every family deserves a home that is safe, healthy and affordable to live in,” said Dr. Anne Evens, CEO, Elevate. “By pairing lead abatement and hazard remediation with energy retrofits, this program protected children’s health while permanently lowering energy costs for 310 families across suburban Cook County. We’re proud to have partnered with Cook County, DES and CCDPH to show what’s possible when health and energy solutions go hand in hand.” 

Linda, a Westchester resident, received health, safety and efficiency upgrades: A new roof, properly installed gutters and additional plumbing installations now help keep the house dry and mold-free. Safety was improved with sturdy stair handrails, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and secured electrical outlets. Masonry repairs were made to help prevent intrusion of wasps into the home and a door trim was repainted to mitigate potential lead paint exposure. Energy efficiency upgrades included weatherizing the home through insulation improvements, new ENERGY STAR® windows and doors and sealing air leaks. HVAC upgrades included a right‑sized furnace, smart thermostat and sealed ductwork. Finally, the electrical service was expanded to 200 amps, enabling future needs and supporting the addition of solar panels.

“Before our home repairs in May, we experienced many challenges that had us dreading the winter and summer seasons,” said Linda. “Now, our utility bills have been cut in half. We would have never been able to make these upgrades on our limited budget. Words cannot express how extremely grateful we are to the County, Elevate and every person who supported this project. You’ve given us a chance to have a better quality of life and be comfortable in our home during our golden years.”

Healthy Homes for Healthy Families is a $29 million investment in Cook County communities led by DES and CCDPH. Elevate is the administrator of the program. The program helped households unable to maintain or improve their homes’ physical structure in historically under-resourced Cook County communities.

B roll of Linda’s home updates is available here.

View map with all participating Healthy Homes for Healthy Families residences here.

About Cook County

Cook County is the second largest county in the United States, representing 5.2 million residents in Illinois. The President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cook County, oversees the Offices Under the President and presides as president of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

About Elevate

Elevate works to create a just and equitable world in which everyone has clean and affordable heat, power and water in their homes and communities. Learn more about Elevate at www.elevatenp.org.