Free in-home air purifiers are now available for qualifying Eastside residents as part of the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s residential air filtration program. The program is open to residents of Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, Eastern Coachella Valley and some areas on the west side of Commerce.
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
The project’s aim is to reduce residential exposure to particulate matter (PM), defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air so small they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems, in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by air pollution.
Funding for the units comes from Assembly Bill 617 (AB 617), a state law passed in 2017 aimed at addressing environmental justice concerns in such neighborhoods.
The neighborhoods of East L.A., Boyle Heights and Commerce are impacted by rail yards, freight and freeway activities, as well as industrial activities at refining, rendering and processing facilities in the area, according to the California Air Resources Board.
Specific boundaries for these areas for the program are available here.
In order to qualify, applicants must submit the first page of a utility bill or property tax statement to verify residence in one of the four target areas. Interested applicants can find more information on the program and apply online here.
The following is a South Coast AQMD guide on how to apply:
