Environmental Charitable Inc. is a non profit Organization

Environmental Charitable was born out of a crisis unfolding in the Westside neighborhood of Costa Mesa, California. Residents — especially vulnerable seniors and young families — were living with the daily burden of air pollution produced by nearby industrial businesses and diesel trucks operating in the area.

The health implications were not just an inconvenience. They were medically debilitating. Uncontrolled emissions of VOCs, metal fumes, and diesel particulates were contaminating the air people breathed, the soil beneath their feet, and the waterways running through their community.

The pollution continued unabated. So we decided to act.

The impact of pollution is a direct hit on the homes of residents. Outdoor contaminants enter through open windows and doors — and when homes are closed up, air still leaks in through cracks in aging structures. Once inside, residents are breathing VOCs, metal fumes, and diesel particulates in the very spaces where they sleep, eat, and recover.

Older homes are especially vulnerable. Built before modern air-sealing standards, they are far harder to protect. Environmental Charitable's work is now heavily focused on these older structures, where the gap between outdoor pollution levels and indoor air quality is smallest — and the health risk is greatest.

Climate and extreme heat compound the problem. During heat waves, residents cannot safely open windows for ventilation, making the trapped indoor air even more dangerous to breathe. The intersection of pollution and heat is one of the most urgent challenges we face.

Our mitigation approach

Environmental Charitable follows a proven, sequential mitigation process — each step building on the last to deliver measurable, lasting protection for residents.

The number one mitigation priority is bringing air purifiers directly into the home. Units range from $300 to $2,000 each. Environmental Charitable sources, funds, and installs these units for residents who cannot afford them — including portable units and in-kind donations from compassionate supporters.

The second step is sealing the home against vapor intrusion and air leaks — cracks in walls, gaps around doors and windows, and structural openings that allow outdoor contaminants to migrate inside. Barrier materials and weatherization work are applied by our team of engineers, construction retirees, and skilled volunteers.

Air quality is measured both outside and inside the home before mitigation begins and again after it is complete. If results show reduced pollution levels, the mitigation worked. If not, we adjust. This data-driven approach ensures every intervention is accountable and every dollar spent is justified.

Extreme heat makes pollution unbearable and forces residents to keep homes sealed — trapping contaminated air inside. Environmental Charitable introduces both portable and central air conditioning units to homes most affected by heat waves, giving residents a safe way to stay cool without opening windows to outdoor pollution.

Power outages and storms can interrupt utility delivery at the worst possible moments — cutting off air purifiers, AC units, and other protective equipment. Backup power units are part of the project, ensuring that homes remain protected even when the grid fails.