HUD Awards More Than $52M to Protect Families from Lead, Other Home Hazards

To protect children and families from the hazards of lead-based paint and from other home health and safety hazards, HUD recently awarded more than $52.6 million in Lead Based Paint Hazard Control grants to 23 local and state government agencies.

The grant funding intends to reduce the number of children with elevated blood lead levels, and protect families by targeting health hazards in over 2,800 low-income homes with significant lead and other home health and safety hazards. HUD Secretary Julián Castro made the announcement during an event hosted by the Center for American Progress called Creating Safe and Healthy Homes for All. “Lead hazards have plagued our nation's children for decades, causing irreversible physical, emotional and mental side effects, and limiting the futures of so many among our next generation,” said Secretary Castro. Our lead hazard control grant program is one of the strongest tools HUD has at its disposal to fight lead poisoning. With this funding, communities can remove lead hazards from low-income homes and give families a safer, brighter future.”

The funding 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. As part of these awards, HUD is providing these Lead Based Paint Hazard Control grantees over $6.6 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.