HUD AWARDS $15 MILLION TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN MASSACHUSETTS FROM LEAD AND OTHER HOME HAZARDS
Funding to make low-income housing safer and healthier

BOSTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $15 million in grants to six local projects in Massachusetts to protect children and families from the hazards of lead-based paint and from other home health and safety hazards.

The awards are a part of $98.3 million in funds awarded to 38 projects across the country to clean up lead paint hazards and other health hazards in 6,373 high-risk homes, train workers in lead-safe work practices, 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.

The City of Boston will be awarded $2.3 million in Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant program funding and an additional $200,000 in Healthy Homes Initiative funding. The City of Boston will address lead hazards in 165 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The City will also perform healthy homes assessments in 50 units. The City of Boston will collaborate with the Massachusetts Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Boston Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, City's Public Health Commission, Health Resources in Action, BlackMinisterial Alliance and more. Contact Person: David George, (617) 635-0664, dgeorge.dnd@cityofboston.gov.

The City of Lawrence will be awarded $2.3 million in Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant program funding and an additional $200,000 in Healthy Homes Initiative funding. The City of Lawrence will address lead hazards in 160 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The City will also perform healthy homes assessments in 100 units. The City will collaborate with the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Institute for Environmental Education, Lawrence General Hospital, Massachusetts Department of Health/Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, the Mayor's Health Task Force, Youthbuild, and the Lawrence Housing Authority. Contact Person: Evelyn Urena, (978) 620-3518, eurena@cityoflawrence.com.

The City of Lowell will be awarded $2.3 million in Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant program funding and an additional $200,000 in Healthy Homes Initiative funding. The City will address lead hazards in 100 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The City will also perform healthy homes assessments in 140 units. The City will collaborate with the Lowell Community Health Center, Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, and the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Contact Person: Allison Lamey, (978) 674-4252, alamey@lowellma.gov.

The City of Lynn will be awarded $2.3 million in Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant pro-gram funding and an additional $200,000 in Healthy Homes Initiative funding. The City will address lead hazards in 125 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The City will also perform healthy homes assessments in 100 units. In addition the City will collaborate with the Community Minority Center CDC, Neighborhood Development Associates, the Lynn Health Department and The Highlands Coalition. Contact Person: Donald Walker, (781) 586-6778, ncole@lhand.org.

The City of Somerville will be awarded $2,007,703.31 in Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant program funding. The City will address lead hazards in 120 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The City will collaborate with the Somerville Community Corporation, Cambridge Health Alliance, the Somerville Lead Action Task Force, Somerville Public Schools, Somerville Condominium Review Board, the Elizabeth Peabody House and the Parent Child Home Visitors Program. Contact Person: Dana Lewinter, (617) 625-6600 ext. 2563, dlewinter@somervillema.gov.

The Malden Redevelopment Authority will be awarded $3 million in Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant program funding. The Malden Redevelopment Authority will address lead hazards in 175 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The Malden Redevelopment Authority will collaborate with the Malden Board of Health, Cambridge Public Health Department, Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc., JHR Environmental Testing, Residential Inspection Company and ASAP Environmental, Inc. Contact Person: Stephen M. Wishoski, (781) 324-5720, redauth@aol.com.

"Childhood lead poisoning is completely preventable and that's exactly what these funds are designed to do," said HUD Deputy Secretary Maurice Jones. "The communities receiving these grants are helping their children grow up brighter, safer and healthier."

"Providing healthy and safe homes for families and children is a top priority for HUD," said Barbara Fields HUD New England Regional Administrator. "HUD is committed to protecting Massachusetts children from the hazards that can be caused by deteriorated lead paint, and mold that follows moisture intruding into the home."

These grant programs of HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control promote local efforts to eliminate dangerous lead hazards from lower income homes; stimulate private sector investment in lead hazard control; and educate 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 $4.4 million to help communities transform their lead hazard control programs to address multiple housing-related hazards.

The following is a breakdown of Massachusetts funding announced today:

*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

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