Issues — Clean Dorm Air Act
Alabama ranks 4th in the nation for mold risk. There are zero state laws requiring mold testing in student housing. The Clean Dorm Air Act is our campaign to change that.
My Story
I came to college so excited. I unpacked my room, met my friends, and started something new. Three months later I had deep cystic acne, hair loss, brain fog, and a depression that felt physical, not emotional.
I spent the money I had saved for college on doctors chasing answers nobody could give me. It was mold. In the room I was paying to live in.
And I am not alone. Nearly 40% of universities in the U.S. show documented signs of mold. Alabama ranks 4th in the nation for mold risk — behind only Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi — and there are zero state laws requiring mold testing in student housing here.
At Alabama A&M, students were hospitalized after dorm mold exposure and their complaints went unanswered for months. Students required to live on campus cannot walk away. They pay, they trust, and right now nothing protects them.
"They deserve to know their room is safe before they unpack."
— Alyssa Blackson, Founder of Poiema ProjectThe Problem
40%
of U.S. Student Housing
Nearly 40% of universities in the United States show documented signs of mold in student housing — a systemic failure affecting hundreds of thousands of students every year.
#4
Alabama's National Mold Risk Rank
Alabama ranks 4th in the nation for mold risk, with over 57 inches of rainfall per year. Behind only Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi.
0
State Laws Requiring Testing
Zero Alabama state laws require mold testing or establish standards in any residential building. Students have no legal protection and no guaranteed right to a mold-free environment.
UA's own EHS department acknowledges it
The University of Alabama's Environmental Health and Safety department states plainly on their public website that mold is a unique issue in Alabama. The climate creates conditions that make dorm mold not an edge case — but an expected outcome when buildings go untested.
Health Stakes
Physical
Cognitive
Mental Health
Brown University — Study of nearly 6,000 adults
People living in moldy environments had a 34 to 44% higher risk of depression.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Improved indoor air quality measurably improved cognitive performance scores.
Alabama's future
These are Alabama's future teachers, nurses, engineers, and leaders. We are housing them in environments that undermine their health before they ever graduate. This is not a hypothetical risk — it is a documented one.
The Policy Framework
Every Alabama university with student housing completes annual mold and moisture testing before move-in, conducted by an inspector certified through the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC) or the International Association of Certified Indoor Air Consultants (IAC2).
01
Complete mold and moisture testing of every building with student housing, completed each summer before move-in season begins.
02
All inspections must be conducted by ACAC or IAC2 certified inspectors — the two nationally recognized accreditation bodies for indoor air quality professionals. No self-reporting.
03
If mold or moisture issues are identified, remediation is required before students move in. No exceptions. No partial compliance.
04
After remediation, a second independent inspection confirms the building meets clearance standards before students occupy the space.
05
A short annual report published publicly — by building — so students and families have access to that information when making housing decisions.
$500–$1,000
per building, per year
This is designed as an unfunded state mandate — the cost falls to universities and is passed to students as each institution sees fit. Emergency mold remediation in Alabama averages $1,500 to $4,000 per incident — before student relocations, room closures, or legal exposure. Prevention is cheaper. And a verified clean bill of health every August is worth something to families deciding where to send their student.
Take Action
Stay Informed
Be the first to know when the independent study publishes findings, when legislation moves, and how you can take action at your own university.
Support the Work
Every dollar funds certified mold inspections in our independent study. That data is the foundation of the legislative push.
Donate to the CampaignStudents — Coming Soon
Our independent study will offer free certified mold testing in student dorm rooms. Sign up to be notified when your school is included.
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