HUD AWARDS $12.7 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN CALIFORNIA FROM LEAD AND OTHER HOME HAZARDS
Funding to make low-income housing safer and healthier

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $12.7 million in grants to five local projects in California to conduct a wide range of activities intended to protect children and families from potentially dangerous lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards.

The grant funding announced today will clean up lead and other health hazards in nearly 6,000 high-risk homes, train workers in lead safety methods, and increase public awareness about childhood lead poisoning. Lead is a known toxin that can impair children's development and have effects lasting into adulthood.

"Protecting the health and well-being of children is a top priority for HUD. We know that housing conditions directly affect the health of its residents," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "These grants will help communities around the nation to protect families from lead exposure and other significant health and safety hazards."

"With these grant awards, HUD makes it clear that providing healthy and safe homes for families and children is a priority," said Jon Gant, Director of HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control. "It's simple: you can't be healthy if your home is sick. HUD is committed to protecting children from these hazards, as part of our efforts to help make the nation's housing healthy and sustainable."

The California "Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control and Safety" projects are listed here:

The State of California Department of Community Services and Development will be awarded $2,300,000 in Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant program funding for the identification and reduction of lead hazards in 275 housing units. The State of California will partner with the following with several community based organizations, the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs, and the local housing departments' rehabilitation programs. Contact Person: Ms. Dorcas Reyes-Fernandez, Program Manager (916) 263-1651; Email dreyesfe@csd.ca.gov.

The City of Long Beach will be awarded $2,299,996 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Control grant program funding and $180,000 in healthy homes supplemental funding for the identification and reduction of healthy homes hazards in 185 housing units providing safer homes for 580 families. The City of Long Beach will partner with Neighborhood Services, the Multi-Family Housing Inspection Program and local non-profits such as the Cambodian American Association. Contact Person: Mr. Nelson Kerr (562) 570-4170; Email nelson.kerr@longbeach.gov.

The City of Richmond will be awarded $2,300,000 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Control grant program funding and $180,000 in healthy homes supplemental funding for the identification and reduction of healthy homes hazards in 200 housing units providing safer homes for families/children. The City of Richmond will partner with Brookside Community Health Center, Contra Costa health Services Department, City of San Pablo and County Housing Authority and the Neighborhood Preservation Program. Contact Person: Ms. Chidi Egbuonu (510) 412-8568; Email chidi@1x.netcom.com.

The San Diego Housing Commission will be awarded $2,300,000 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Control grant program funding and $180,000 in healthy homes supplemental funding for the identification and reduction of healthy homes hazards in 165 housing units providing safer homes for families/children. The San Diego Housing Commission will partner with the Environmental Health Coalition, County of San Diego Health Department, City of San Diego Lead Safety & Healthy Housing Program, SDHC – Work Force and Economic Development, La Maestra Health Center, Richard Health and Associates, Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee, and Campesinos Unidos. Contact Person: Mr. Steven Dean, Housing Construction Manager (619) 578-7515; Email stevend@sdhc.org.

Through these grant programs, HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control promotes local efforts to eliminate dangerous lead hazards from lower income homes; stimulates private sector investment in lead hazard control; and educates the public about the dangers of lead-based paint.

Lead Hazard Control Grant Programs

Even though lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978, HUD estimates that approximately 24 million homes still have significant lead-based paint hazards today. Lead-contaminated dust is the primary cause of lead exposure and can lead to a variety of health problems in young children, including reduced IQ, learning disabilities, developmental delays, reduced height, and impaired hearing. At higher levels, lead can damage a child's kidneys and central nervous system and cause anemia, coma, convulsions and even death.

The funding announced today directs critical funds to cities, counties and states to eliminate dangerous lead paint hazards in thousands of privately-owned, low-income housing units. These funds are provided through HUD's Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control and Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant programs. To expand the reach of HUD's Lead Hazard Control Program. HUD is also providing over $5.3 million to help communities transform their lead hazard control programs to address multiple housing-related hazards.

Grant program abbreviations are as follows:

LBPHC - Lead Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program
(includes Healthy Homes Initiative supplemental funding, as applicable)

LHRD - Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program

The following is a breakdown of the funding announced today in California:

###

HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.