Local efforts in 12 states to eliminate lead-paint hazards in thousands of privately owned low-income housing units have been awarded more than $31 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
HUD’s grants will help local projects in California, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas and Wisconsin reduce lead-based-paint hazards and improve living conditions. Eligible jurisdictions for the grant program include those with at least 3,500 occupied rental-housing units built before 1940.
Detroit and Kenosha County, Wis., landed the biggest grants ($4 million each), followed by Milwaukee ($3.9 million); Austin, Texas ($3.8 million); San Francisco ($3.3 million); Albany, N.Y. ($3 million); Woonsocket, R.I. ($2.8 million); Manchester, N.H. ($1.8 million); Lansing, Mich. ($1.4 million), Winnebago County, Ill. ($1.2 million); Buffalo, N.Y. ($1.1 million); and Schenectady, N.Y. ($1 million).
Detroit will produce approximately 200 lead-safe homes, conduct community education and outreach, and perform blood lead testing of young children, HUD said in a press release.
