The City of Bridgeport announced on July 8 that the city’s Health and Social Services Department was selected to receive the Connecticut State Department of Public Health for Local Heat and Air Quality Preparedness & Response Planning grant.
Only two cities were selected.
The funds will be used to address the needs of one public housing facility in each of the city’s six zip codes. Heat and air quality are particularly important considerations for elderly residents, who are more susceptible to health issues from both hot temperatures and air with high particulate counts.
The funding will allow the creation of a contract position, the Heat and Air Quality Project Coordinator, responsible for monitoring and addressing those issues.
“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the State Department of Public Health for their support in helping to address health challenges in our City,” said Mayor Joe Ganim. “Like many urban settings, Bridgeport contends with a myriad of health disparities, often exacerbated by social determinants of health. With this grant, we aim to address health inequity and overall quality of life for our most vulnerable residents.”
