A new health clinic for children will receive $50,000 in free rent through an agreement recently brokered by HUD with a Washington D.C. landlord. The real estate management company agreed to help establish the clinic after the Department found it failed to warn its tenants that their homes might contain lead-based paint hazards. As part of an earlier settlement agreement with HUD, the property manager also agreed to pay the government $50,000 and to test and abate lead-based paint in its rental properties - a cost estimated at $500,000.
HUD actively enforces lead-based paint regulations across the nation in order to help end serious problems young children face from high blood-lead levels *. As in the Washington, D.C. case, HUD negotiates settlements against landlords and home sellers: these settlements have resulted in cumulative commitments to test for and clean up lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards in almost 159,757 units - at an estimated cost of nearly $22 million. In addition, these settlements have resulted in $478,350 in penalties and $418,750 to fund child health improvement projects.The D.C.-based real estate management company agreed to provide free rent to the community-based clinic operated by Catholic University's School of Nursing at the Pentacle Apartments in Northeast Washington. Catholic University's Child and Family Community Behavioral Health Center will provide blood lead screenings for children as well as other pediatric diagnostic and educational services to families in several city wards.
"This clinic is a testament to HUD's commitment to protecting children from the dangers of lead-poisoning," said David Jacobs, director of HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control. "It should also send a clear message to landlords and sellers of older homes that they have a legal responsibility to inform tenants and homebuyers that their housing may contain lead paint hazards. Every child deserves a healthy home **."
Under the Residential Lead?Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, sellers and landlords must disclose the presence of known lead?based paint and known lead?based paint hazards in their housing and make available any related reports to potential buyers or tenants. Buyers have several days before ratification of a contract to conduct a lead?based paint inspection or risk assessment. The law covers most housing built before 1978, when lead-based paint was banned for residential use.
Learn what is required before a contract for housing sale or lease is ratified. To report a disclosure rule violation to HUD, call (800) 424-LEAD.
*Elevated blood-lead levels in young children can cause learning disabilities, reduced IQ, developmental delays, slowed growth, hearing problems, damage to the brain and nervous system, and in rare cases, even death. Lead poisoning is also harmful to adults, especially pregnant women.
**The percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels has been cut in half since the early 1990's, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - although the prevalence of childhood lead poisoning in low-income older housing remains high. In fact, one in six low-income children living in older housing is believed to be lead poisoned. HUD estimates that the number of houses with lead paint has declined from 64 million in 1990 to 38 million in 2000. Pregnant women poisoned by lead can transfer lead to a developing fetus, resulting in adverse developmental effects. HUD's continuing nationwide campaign against lead poisoning is intended to dramatically reduce - and finally eliminate - that unnecessary danger which especially harms young children and infants.
Learn more about HUD's complete Healthy Homes program.