HUD ANNOUNCES GRANT TO PROTECT MANCHESTER CHILDREN FROM DANGEROUS LEAD PAINT HAZARDS
Funding is one of 12 grants awarded nationwide to help eliminate lead hazards from low-income homes

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Today, Housing and Urban Development Regional Director Taylor Caswell joined Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta to announce $1.8 million in funding to the City of Manchester to protect children and families
from dangerous lead-based paint hazards in homes.

The grant is being awarded under the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration program to make 240 homes in Manchester lead-safe. The program will focus on low-income families with young children, especially minority and refugee families.

This grant is one of only 12 being awarded nationwide totaling $31.3 million. To be eligible for the grant, jurisdictions must have at least 3,500 occupied rental-housing units built before 1940. The funding will allow communities such as Manchester to eliminate dangerous lead paint hazards in thousands of privately-owned, low-income housing units nationwide.

"Every family deserves a safe and healthy home to raise their children," said Caswell. "Mayor Guinta has
demonstrated that the city is fully committed to making their older housing stock healthier places to live."

The project will be managed by the City's Planning Department who will partner with New Hampshire State Health Department, Dartmouth College, several non-profit organizations and financial institutions. Fannie Mae, the nation's largest mortgage securities company, provided technical assistance to the city as it developed its lead hazard
control strategy.

Through its 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 as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

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