HUD ANNOUNCES $6.2 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR NORTH CAROLINA TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM DANGEROUS LEAD AND OTHER HOME HEALTH
AND SAFETY HAZARDS
HUD grants to support 3 local programs in North Carolina

GREENSBORO - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded over $6.2 million in grants
to two local communities, and a scientific research institution to help protect children and families from dangerous lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards. The funding announced today is expected to reduce or eliminate lead exposure and/or reduce levels of allergy-inducing substances in 285 homes in the cities of Greensboro and Rocky Mount. An additional 21 homes from 7 cities across the United States will be examined for the effects of soil treatment on lead levels. Lead is a known toxin that can impair children's development and may even cause
death at high levels.

The North Carolina funding specifics are: The City of Rocky Mount will be awarded up to $2,765,585 in Lead
Hazard Control funds to perform lead hazard control activities in 270 housing units. The RTI International will be awarded up to $448,276 in Lead Technical Studies funds to examine the effects of soil treatment on interior dust
lead levels in 21 homes from 7 cities across the United States. The City of Greensboro Housing and Community Development will be awarded up to $3,000,000 in Lead Hazard Control funds to clear 215 units of lead hazards.

"Today, we are making our homes safer and healthier places in which to raise our children," said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. "In particular, HUD is awarding these grants as part of our commitment to help communities eliminate childhood lead poisoning by 2010."

HUD and two of its federal agency partners, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, operate the National Lead Information Clearinghouse, where parents, property owners, and other members of the public can get information about lead hazards and their prevention. The Clearinghouse has a
toll free number, (800) 424-LEAD, and a web site, www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/nlic.htm, both of which provide
information in English and Spanish.

The three grants announced today are part of nearly $143 million HUD is awarding to 65 local programs in 23 states across the country. These grants will support a wide range of activities including cleaning up lead-based paint
hazards and improving living conditions of lower income families. Through these six 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. 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 today 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 award $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 today 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.

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.

Media information contact for North Carolina, Chris Stearns (336) 547-4000 ext. 2064.

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