December 16, 2021

HUD: Nearly $13.2 Million Awarded to Protect Families from Lead and Other Home Health and Safety Hazards

Funding to make low-income families’ homes safer and healthier

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded nearly $13.2 million to state and local government agencies located in 3 states to protect children and families from lead-based paint and home health hazards. The grants announced today emphasize the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to solving the nation’s lead crisis.

HUD is providing these grants through its Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction (LBPHR) Grant Programs to identify and clean up dangerous lead, and health and safety hazards in low-income families’ homes. These grants also include nearly $1.3 million from HUD’s Healthy Homes Supplemental funding to help communities with housing-related health and safety hazards in addition to lead-based paint hazards.

These investments will protect families and children by targeting significant lead and health hazards in over 600 low-income homes for which other resources are not available.

“The funds awarded through the Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Programs are critical for communities to mitigate the impacts of unhealthy housing, preserve affordable housing, and ensure that future generations can reach their full potential,” said Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “These grants will enable families to live in homes that are healthier as a result of our, and their city governments’ efforts.”

The grants announced today are the second round of grants this year from the Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Grant Program and come as a part of HUD’s continued efforts to solve the nations lead crisis. In August, HUD awarded nearly $95 million to 28 state and local government agencies in 19 states to protect children and families from lead-based paint and other home health hazards.

This past October, Secretary Fudge hosted Cleveland Clinic President and CEO, Dr. Tom Mihaljevic, to discuss the nation’s lead poisoning crisis and to raise awareness of the harmful and long-term effects of lead exposure to children, particularly the disproportional prevalence of elevated blood levels in underserved and communities of color.

Grant ProgramStateOrganization NameLead Units ProposedHealthy Homes Supplement Units ProposedLead AmountHealthy Homes Supplement Amount
1LHRDCACity of Long Beach220220$3,991,791$587,433
2LHRDOHCity of Cleveland240175$5,000,000$700,000
3LBPHCTNCity of Clarksville1500$2,879,918$0
This post was originally published here.