Funding to make low-income housing safer and healthier
NEW YORK – August 26, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — In an effort to protect children and families from the hazards of lead-based paint and other health hazards and safety hazards, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $7.4 million in Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grants split between New York City and Rochester, New York. The grants are part of $48.9 million announced to 14 recipients across the country.
The grant funding announced today will reduce the number of lead-poisoned children and protect families by targeting health hazards in low-income homes with significant lead and/or other home health and safety hazards. The Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant program has a demonstrated history of success, filling critical needs in urban communities where no other resources exist to address substandard housing built before 1940 that threatens the health of the most vulnerable residents.
As HUD celebrates its 50th anniversary, HUD Secretary Julián Castro is focused on advancing policies that create opportunities for all Americans, including helping children and families secure quality housing by protecting them from the hazards of lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards.
“Every family deserves to live in a safe and healthy home where they can see their children thrive and excel,” said Castro. “Communities will use these grants to help eliminate home-related hazards in neighborhoods across the country. A healthy home is vital to the American Dream.”
“Meaningful opportunity begins with a home free from health hazards that can impair childhood development and increase the risk of chronic illness,” said Holly Leicht, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. “This funding will ensure that over 500 at-risk families in the Bronx and Rochester have the safe and healthy homes they deserve.”
Unsafe and unhealthy homes affect the health of millions of people of all income levels, geographic areas, and walks of life in the U.S. These unsafe and unhealthy homes affect the economy directly, through increased utilization of health care services, and indirectly through lost wages and increased school days missed. Housing improvements help prevent injuries and illnesses, reduce associated health care and social services costs, reduce absentee rates for children in school and adults at work, and reduce stress, all which help to improve the quality of life.
HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes promotes local efforts to eliminate dangerous lead paint and other housing-related health hazards from lower income homes; stimulate private sector investment in lead hazard control; support cutting-edge research on methods for assessing and controlling housing-related health and safety hazards; and educate the public about the dangers of hazards in the home. Read a complete project-by-project summary of the programs awarded grants today.
The funding announced today directs critical funds to cities, counties and states to eliminate dangerous lead paint and other housing-related health hazards in thousands of privately-owned, low-income housing units. HUD is also providing the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration program grantees over $3.5 million in Healthy Homes supplemental funding to help communities mitigate multiple health hazards in high risk housing simultaneously, in conjunction with their lead hazard control activities.
