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Asthma Prevention and Control

We help Boston residents breathe easier by providing free services and resources.

The Asthma Prevention and Control Program works to improve the health of all Bostonians with asthma, especially children, older adults, and residents of underserved communities, by using data, education, and policy, and partnering with community and city organizations to expand care and reduce environmental triggers.   

CONTACT Our Team

Free Asthma Services

Breathe Easy At Home

The Breathe Easy at Home Program helps renters living with asthma by addressing unhealthy housing conditions that may trigger symptoms. If issues in your home—such as mold, pests, or poor ventilation—are making your asthma worse, ask your healthcare provider for a referral. We partner with the City of Boston’s Inspectional Services Housing Division and work with renters and landlords to identify problems and ensure they are repaired.

Please note: This is not a relocation program. The goal is to improve current living conditions so residents can stay safe in their homes.

For Residents: 

Request An Inspection

For Providers:

Register with Breathe Easy at Home

Log into Breathe Easy at Home

Need help registering? See “Resources” → “For Providers”

Boston Asthma Home Visiting Program

Learn how to better manage your or your child's asthma at home with free Asthma Home Visits. A community health worker from our partner organizations will visit your home to identify asthma triggers—like dust, mold, pests, or smoke—and help you focus on the things within your control to better manage your asthma. They will give tips on asthma management—like how to use medications and inhalers correctly, how to spot early signs of asthma, and how to follow the Asthma Action Plan—and may provide educational materials, health resources, and supplies to help reduce triggers.

To Request An Asthma Home Visit:

Residents and healthcare providers can request an asthma home visit by contacting our team. We will then connect residents with one of our partner organizations that conduct asthma home visits. 

Our Partner Organizations: Boston Children's Hospital and NeighborHealth

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a lifelong lung condition that makes breathing harder. It happens when the airways narrow, swell, and produce extra mucus, which can cause coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and wheezing. Asthma symptoms can vary for each person. Common triggers include: 

  • Allergens: pollen, dust, mold, pet dander, cockroaches, mice
  • Irritants: smoke, strong scents and perfumes, cleaning chemicals, air pollution
  • Infections: cold, flu, COVID-19, sinus infections
  • Environmental Factors: cold air, heat, humidity, sudden temperature changes
  • Other Triggers: exercise, stress, certain foods, NSAIDs/asprin

Learn More

Image comparing healthy lungs to lungs with asthma. On the left is a normal airways that is open and relaxed with normal muscle tone and mucus. On the right is an airway with asthma with narrowed, tight muscles, swollen walls, and excess mucous. A human figure is show in the center and the text explains that asthma makes it harder to for air to move in and out of the lungs.
Image Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

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