VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCES $17,624,182 IN RECOVERY ACT FUNDS TO CLEAN UP DANGEROUS LEAD IN HOUSING IN CALIFORNIA
Grants to protect children, create healthy housing and create jobs

WASHINGTON - Following a tour of the Esperanza Community Housing Corporation in South Central Los Angeles,
Vice President Biden today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is making
nearly than $100 million in Recovery Act funding available to help eliminate dangerous lead-based paint and other health and safety hazards from low-income homes. HUD's grants will help 53 local programs in 20 states and the District of Columbia to protect young children from lead poisoning and create jobs. To view a summary of local programs funded through the Recovery Act, visit HUD's website.

The Vice President was joined by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Rep. Xavier Becerra and U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Ron Simms on the visit to Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, which is receiving $875,000 to help identify and clean up lead and other health hazards in 225 homes
in Los Angeles.

"It is unacceptable that some 40 percent of homes in this country still contain lead-based paints, the majority of which are in low-income areas where homes have not been renovated in decades," said Vice President Biden. "These are our children, our next generation - and thanks to the Recovery Act, we are investing in their future by reducing lead paint in their homes, educating their families about its abundant hazards and improving the safety of the communities they grow up in."

"In making these grants available today, the Department is acknowledging the importance of healthy homes and protecting our children from dangerous lead hazards," said HUD Deputy Secretary Sims. "And not only will this
program contribute to healthy, safe homes for all children and families, which is a top priority for HUD, but it will also support shovel-ready projects that are essential to getting Americans back to work and fixing the nation's economic crisis quickly and efficiently."

Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), which was signed into law
by President Obama on February 17, the grants to States and local governments are being offered by HUD's Office
of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control. The recipients of these Recovery Act grants were qualified applicants
in the FY08 funding cycle but were not initially awarded grants because of the limited number of funds available at that time. The grants will contribute to President Obama's mission under the Recovery Act to create and sustain
jobs and jumpstart the nation's economy.

The Recovery Act includes $13.61 billion for projects and programs administered by HUD, nearly 75 percent of which was allocated to state and local recipients only eight days after President Obama signed the Act into law. The remaining 25 percent of funds will be awarded through a competitive grant process in the coming months. HUD is committed to implementing Recovery Act investments swiftly, but also effectively as they generate tens of
thousands of jobs, modernize homes to make them energy efficient, and help the families and communities hardest
hit by the economic crisis.

In addition, Secretary Donovan and the Department are committed to providing the highest level of transparency possible as Recovery Act funds are administered. It is vitally important that the American people are fully aware of how their tax dollars are being spent and can hold their federal leaders accountable. Every dollar of Recovery Act funds HUD awards can be reviewed and tracked at HUD's Recovery Act website. The full text of HUD's funding
notices and tracking future performance of these grants is also available at HUD's Recovery Act website.

State of California

The City of Long Beach will be awarded $2,999,947 in federal funding under the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant program to control residential lead-based paint hazards in 310 units of multifamily properties in highest need census tracts. The project will focus its enrollment efforts to reduce overall per unit costs and make the greatest number of residential units safe from lead-based paint hazards. The City will finance 10% of the lead abatement costs, and recover the costs by billing property owners a share of the cost of the lead hazard control services. Contact Mr. Ronald Arias, Program Director, (560) 570-4016.

The State of California will be awarded $3,000,000 in federal funding under the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control
grant program to provide lead hazard control in at least 305 targeted homes. The lead hazard reduction activities
will be accomplished through partnerships with community-based organizations, local Health Departments' Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs, and the local housing departments' rehabilitation programs. Through
partnerships with state agencies/organizations, this program will reach 3,000 individuals with lead hazard awareness information; 30 individuals will be trained at various locations throughout the state. Contact Ms. Renee Webster-Hawkins, Chief Deputy Director, (916) 341-4305.

The City of San Francisco will be awarded $3,000,000 in federal funding under the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant program to control lead hazards in 35 owner-occupied and 120 rental housing units, as well as in 20 vacant rental units. This project will control lead hazards in several low-income districts of San Francisco that have a high concentration of rental units, low income households, and children, and low availability of affordable housing. Based
on U.S. Census Data, the project will assist 300 children living in units with lead hazards, provide 150 children with blood lead testing, and reach 2,500 individuals through community lead hazard awareness activities. Contact Ms. Sonia Delgado-Schaumberg, Lead and Property Rehab Programs Manager, (415) 701-5540.

The City of Fresno will be awarded $3,000,000 in federal funding under the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant program to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in 210 eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing. The City of Fresno will collaborate with the California Department of Health's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP), the Fresno Interdenominational Refugees Ministry and Centro La Familia to provide outreach/education services about lead-based paint hazards. Contact Mr. Keith Bergthold, Assistant Planning
Director, (559)-621-8049.

The City of Long Beach will be awarded $874,992 in federal funding under the Healthy Homes Demonstration grant program to deliver cost effective, replicable housing interventions to reduce environmental health and safety
hazards contributing to asthma, allergies, and unintentional injuries in the homes of 300 families with asthmatic children. The project will study the environmental and resident health outcomes of intensive, environmental interventions relative to standard, education-only interventions. The project will also provide outreach and
education to residents to maintain healthier home environments and realize better long-term health and quality of
life. Anticipated health outcomes for participating families include reduced asthma symptoms, reduced absences
from school or work and reduced hospitalizations/ER visits due to asthma. Long Beach will partner with local government, business, community and faith based organizations including Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma, City Code Enforcement/Housing Inspection Department, the Unified School District Head Start Program and First Christian and Gethsemane Baptist Churches. Contact Mr. Jeff Benedict, Program Manager (562) 570-4128.

Esperanza Community Housing Corporation will be awarded $875,000 in federal funding under the Healthy Homes Demonstration grant program to conduct home assessments in 225 homes, using both the PEHA assessment tool
and the Esperanza Healthy Homes interview form. The proposed program is a partnership between Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, St. John's Well Child and Family Center and Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) to address multiple environmental health problems in the homes of low-income residents who have a child diagnosed with asthma. Once the assessment is complete, the Community Health Promoter provides education on
the following:

1. Asthma,
2. Lead hazards, lead poisoning prevention and lead-safe work practices,
3. Poison control,
4. Pest management--reducing harborage and clutter to fight roaches and other vermin,
5. Non-toxic cleaning solutions.

The team estimates that during the three year grant period health promoters make 36 presentations to a variety of community agencies and at community health fairs. SAJE will provide education and assistance to 220 individuals during the three year program. Contact Ms. Nancy Ibrahim, Project Manager at (213) 748-7285.

City of Pomona will be awarded $2,999,243 in federal funding under the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant program to implement the Lead Education Awareness Control Program and carry out lead hazard control activities in 270 residential units. Based on the City's owner-occupant and rental-property ratios, it is expected that 102 of
these units will be owner-occupied; 163 will be rentals; and 5 units will be vacant. The grant program will train 72 local residents in an effort to expand the capacity for local residents to conduct lead hazard control remediation.
The Pomona grant program will reach 3,000 individuals through its outreach and education activities. Contact Ms. Beverly Johnson, Housing Grants Administrator, (909) 620-2433.

Riverside County will be awarded $875,000 in federal funding under the Healthy Homes Demonstration grant program to serve as the lead over the Riverside County Healthy Homes Demonstration Program (RHHDP). Through outreach activities, community members will be screened using our eligibility criteria: residence in Riverside County, low-
income, and presence of child with a diagnosis of asthma (priority) or a major respiratory illness e.g. chronic bronchitis. Out of 300 families contacted, 100 homes will be selected through outreach and verification of eligibility
to be assessed for home environmental hazards. All 100 clients will receive educational regarding home hazard prevention. Based on need, 50 of these homes will be selected to received professional house cleaning, as well as
the option to attend the "Caring, Learning, and Educating for Asthmatic Needs (CLEAN)" Academy, consisting of
home visits to help clients develop and follow a personalized plan to keep their homes clean. Twenty-five of the neediest participants will also receive physical/major remediations in their home. Contact Mr. Steven Uhlman,
Program Chief II, (951) 358-5050.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities;
creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the
Internet and espanol.hud.gov.