HUD AWARDS $8.4 MILLION TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN MASSACHUSETTS FROM DANGEROUS LEAD AND OTHER HOME HAZARDS
Funding part of $118 million awarded nationwide to make low-income housing safer and healthier

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded more than $118 million in grants to dozens
of state and local communities, public health organizations and scientific research institutions to better protect children and families from dangerous lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards. In Massachusetts, $8.4 million in total funding was awarded to the City of Boston, the City of Somerville, and to Phoenix Science & Technology (in conjunction with the City of Lowell). A list of grant amounts and grant summaries is attached.

"Today, we take another step closer toward ending childhood lead poisoning and making our homes safer and
healthier places in which to raise our children," said HUD Regional Director Taylor Caswell. "While we've made great progress in reducing lead poisoning, we cannot rest until we banish this preventable disease to the history books."

HUD grants will help 63 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. Through seven grant programs, 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 health hazards in housing.

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. For more information about FHA products, please visit www.fha.gov.

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Lead Hazard Control and Office of Healthy Homes Grants Massachusetts

• The City of Boston will be awarded $3,000,000 under the Lead Hazard Control Grant Program and
  $1,545,966 under the Lead Reduction Demonstration Grant Program to produce 270 and 120 lead safe
  units, respectively. The grant programs are operated by the Department of Neighborhood Development
  (DND) and several local partnering organizations known as "Lead Safe Boston."
  Contact: Carole Cornelison, Homeowner Services Division (617) 635-0364.
  
  
• The City of Somerville will be awarded $1,911,849 under the Lead Hazard Control Grant Program and $1,572,670 under the Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program to produce 120 lead-safe units. The City of Somerville will provide outreach about lead hazards to at least 10,000 individuals. New and existing
  partnerships through sub-grantees and local agencies will provide direct outreach and lead poisoning
  prevention education efforts through more than 100 churches and faith-based organizations.
  Contact: Jacqueline Vachon-Jackson, Program Manager (617) 625-6600, x2568.
  
  
• Phoenix Science and Technology will be awarded $375,207 in federal funds to refine its prototype
  photolytic lead paint remover. The unit has received funding from both HUD and the Environmental Protection Agency to develop the prototype from small scale to field operational characteristics. The objective is to develop a transportable unit that has a higher rate of paint removal and to conduct field tests. Trim pieces
  and doors will be removed and treated in conjunction with the City of Lowell's Lead Abatement Program.
  This will result in a better understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the unit. The grantee
  anticipates marketing the final model in the future. This will help professionals to remove lead-based paint
  with minimal damage to the substrate caused by current industry practices of stripping and/or scraping.
  Contact: Teresa Casey, Business Manager (978) 367-0232, x121.