Carla Potts is getting her 15 minutes before a state panel.Potts, deputy director for Housing Development Programs at the not-for-profit North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC), will discuss the agency’s Healthy Homes initiative before the Missouri Public Service Commission on Dec. 1. She’s scheduled to speak from noon to 12:15.The meeting is in Jefferson City, and will also include testimony about the state energy plan, clean power options and a residential direct-install program for low-income people.“This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss Healthy Homes with some powerful people,” Potts said. “We’ve already seen how effective this initiative can be. Now, we want to showcase it for as many people as we can in our ongoing effort to expand the program.”Potts developed the program, which got under way in 2014. Healthy Homes is a partnership between NECAC, NeighborWorks, the Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Wells Fargo, Rural LISC and SSM Health Care.Eligible homes in Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis and Warren counties are being weatherized by NECAC crews. The idea is to create healthier living conditions by removing environmental hazards and contaminants such as asbestos, mold and lead paint.The average cost per home is $5,000 to $6,000 — much less than the re-admittance fines hospitals are required to pay for patients who come back within 30 days of discharge, as outlined in the Affordable Care Act.NECAC recently received a $17,000 grant from Rural LISC to coordinate Healthy Homes education and received a Best Practices rating from the NeighborWorks America Rural Task Force. The agency hopes to expand the program to other areas.“There may be a trickle-down effect to this investment,” Potts said. “NECAC’s expansion of Healthy Homes would provide stimulus to help local businesses, add jobs and allow hospitals to put money into other needed areas.”More information is available by calling Potts at 573-324-6622.NECAC