HUD AWARDS STATE OF LOUISIANA, JEFFERSON PARISH $6.6 MILLION TO PROTECT FAMILIES FROM LEAD AND OTHER HOME HEALTH HAZARDS
Grants to make low-income housing safer and healthier

NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded a total of $6.6 million to the State of Louisiana and Jefferson Parish to protect children and families from lead-based paint and home health hazards. Nationally, it awarded $319 million to 77 state, local government and tribal agencies, a record amount.

The grants to Louisiana are provided through HUD's Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction and Healthy Homes Programs to identify and clean up dangerous lead in low-income housing.

"We are committed to improving the lives of all families, especially children, by creating safer and healthier homes," said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. "One of HUD's priorities is protecting families from lead-based paint and other health hazards. Today's grants will help the State of Louisiana and Jefferson Parish do precisely that."

Funding in Louisiana is as follows:

The State of Louisiana will use its $3,000,000 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding and $300,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funding to address lead hazards in 200 housing units, providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The State will also perform healthy homes assessments in 60 units, and work with other medical and social service providers. Contact Person: Lauren Holmes, (225) 754-1452 and lhartley@lhc.la.gov.

Jefferson Parish will use its $3,000,000 Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding and $300,000 Healthy Homes Supplemental funding to address lead hazards in 50 housing units, providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The Parish will also perform healthy homes assessments in 34 units, and work with other medical and social service providers. Contact Person: Nicole Fontenot, (504) 736-6260 and nfontenot@jeffparish.net.

HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes promotes local efforts to eliminate dangerous lead paint and other housing-related health hazards from lower income homes; stimulates private sector investment in lead hazard control; supports cutting-edge research on methods for assessing and controlling housing-related health and safety hazards; and educates the public about the dangers of hazards in the home.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and https://espanol.hud.gov.

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