HUD AWARDS MORE THAN $5.48 MILLION TO PROTECT MINNESOTA CHILDREN FROM LEAD AND OTHER HOME HAZARDS
Funding to make low-income housing safer and healthier

CHICAGO - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $5,481,728 million in grants to two local projects in Minnesota 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 Duluth will be awarded $2,300,000 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Control grant program funding and an additional $181,395 in Healthy Homes Initiative funding. The City of Duluth will address lead hazards in 170 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The City will also perform healthy homes assessments 170 units. The City of Duluth will collaborate with including but not limited to: American Lung Association, One Roof, Ecolibrium3 and Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency.

Hennepin County will be awarded $3,000,000 in the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant program funding. Hennepin County will address lead hazards in 300 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. Hennepin County will collaborate with the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC), City of Lakes Community Land Trust (CLCLT), Metro Area Public Housing Authorities, HousingLink, Sparc, Greater Frogtown Community Development Corporation and Eastside Neighborhood Development Company Inc. Contact Person: Mike Jensen, 612-348-2114, Michael.A.Jensen@co.hennepin.mn.us.

"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 Antonio R. Riley, HUD's Midwest Regional Administrator. "HUD is committed to protecting Minnesota children from the hazards that can be caused by deteriorated lead paint and mold."

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.

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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 at @HUDnews or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.