HUD ANNOUNCES $143 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM DANGEROUS LEAD AND OTHER HOME HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS
DELAWARE RECEIVES $2.9+ MILLION

WILMINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded nearly $143 million in grants to dozens of state and local communities, public health organizations and scientific research institutions to help protect children and families from dangerous lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards. The funding announced is expected to reduce or eliminate lead exposure in more than 10,500 homes nationally, and reduce levels of allergy-inducing substances in more than 780 homes. Lead is a known toxin that can impair children's development and may even cause death at high levels.

"We are making our homes safer and healthier places in which to raise our children," said HUD Wilmington Field Office Director, Diane L. Lello. "In particular, HUD is awarding these grants as part of our commitment to help communities eliminate childhood lead poisoning by 2010."

"With recent and much publicized coverage of lead-based paint in children's toys, I am pleased HUD is reaching out
to the community in an effort to tackle an equally troubling health issue," said Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE). "We need to keep children safe, especially within their homes, and I am confident these funds will go a long way to do
just that. Lead poisoning is a serious concern, and I thank HUD for recognizing the need to take action now to
reduce the risk for children and families."

The State of Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) will be awarded up to $2,996,866 under
the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration program to undertake lead hazard reduction in 246 at risk properties in
high risk communities over the three year grant period. The DHSS has committed $870, 145 in match funds. De-Lead Delaware will leverage an array of resources to produce lead safer homes for families with young children who reside
in the most at risk housing in Delaware. The Program will be primarily housed at the Latin American Community
Center. DHSS will team with the City of Wilmington Real Estate and Housing, the Latin American Community Center, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Beautiful Gate Outreach Center and the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning.

"This money will go a long way to keep children and families safe and secure in their own homes," said Senator Tom Carper (D-DE). "The community groups that are involved have reputations for doing their best for the community and
I know this project will also be a success. My thanks to each participant for continuing to do what's right for the residents of Wilmington."

HUD grants will help 65 state and local projects around the country to conduct a wide range of activities including cleaning up lead-based paint hazards and improving living conditions of lower income families. HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control promotes local efforts to eliminate dangerous lead and other hazards from lower income homes; stimulates private sector investment in lead hazard control; educates the public about the dangers
of lead-based paint; and supports scientific research into innovative methods to identify and eliminate healt
h hazards in housing. A complete project-by-project summary of the programs awarded grants today can be found
on HUD's website.

Lead Hazard Control Grant Programs

Even though lead-based paint was banned for use in the home in 1978, HUD estimates 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 includes $131 million 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 the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant programs. HUD will also awarded $1.2
million in Lead Outreach grants for public education campaigns on what parents, building owners and others can do
to protect children. Further, $3.5 million will assist research to study methods to reduce the cost and increase the effectiveness of lead hazard control strategies.

Healthy Homes Initiative

A variety of preventable health and safety hazards threaten children every year. The funding announced includes nearly $5 million in demonstration grants to identify and eliminate housing conditions that contribute to children's disease and injury, such as asthma, mold exposure, and carbon monoxide contamination. HUD is also investing $2 million to support scientific research into new ways of identifying and eliminating health hazards in housing.

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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 as
well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.