HUD AWARDS $5.3 MILLION TO PROTECT PENNSYLVANIA CHILDREN FROM LEAD AND OTHER HOME HAZARDS
Funding to make low-income housing safer and healthier

PHILADELPHIA - The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $5.3 million to protect children
and families living in Philadelphia and Erie from potentially dangerous lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards.

The grant funding announced today is part of $93 million HUD is awarding nationwide to clean up lead and other
health hazards in nearly 7,000 high-risk homes, train workers in lead safety methods, 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.

"Protecting the health and well-being of children is a top priority for HUD.  We know that housing conditions directly affect the health of its occupants," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "These grants will help communities around the nation to protect families from lead exposure and other significant health and safety hazards."

The City of Philadelphia Public Health will be awarded $3,000,000 in Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant program funds to continue to provide lead safe housing to families with lead-poisoned children. The program will evaluate 250 homes for lead paint and hazards, eliminate hazards in 244 homes, conduct outreach and education
and provide training to many individuals in lead hazard control and healthy homes.  The City of Philadelphia will be partnering with the National Nursing Centers Consortium, the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Agency Coalition,
the Neighborhood Interfaith Movement, Community Legal Services, the Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations (Concilio), the Homeowner's Association of Philadelphia County, the Apartment Association of Greater Philadelphia,
the Philadelphia YMCA, the City's Office of Housing and Community Development, the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation, Federation Early Learning Services; Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, Public Citizens for Children and Youth, the Philadelphia Gas Works, the Energy Coordinating Agency, Division of Chronic Disease Control, and Division of Maternal Child and Family Health. For more information, contact: Mr. Peter Palermo, Chief, 215-685-2788, peter.palermo@phila.gov.

The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Erie Housing Rehabilitation Department will be awarded
$2,375,000 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program funds $100,000 in additional funds to promote healthy homes initiatives funds to Reduce asthma triggers, mold, trips and falls, and pest infestations. The program will evaluate 200 homes for lead paint and hazards eliminate lead hazards in 156 homes; conduct outreach and
education to reach people through Local resources and partners, news media, partner agencies and provide training
to 12 individuals in RRP and lead abatement. The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Erie (ERA) will be partnering with 33 organizations, St Martin Center, Erie County Department of Health, Erie Community Health Net, Erie City Housing Authority in this program. For more information, contact: Robert Lawrence Bossolt, Executive Director, 814-453-4505, lbossolt@redeveloperie.org.

"These grants will protect our most precious resource, our children and future generations from the potential of lead poisoning and other hazards," said HUD Regional Administrator Jane C.W. Vincent. "HUD is committed to making housing safe for citizens and this $5.3 million investment delivers on HUD's mission to preserving their health and ultimately, their quality of life."

With these grant awards, HUD makes it clear that providing healthy and safe homes for families and children is a priority. It's simple: you can't be healthy if your home is sick. HUD is committed to protecting children from these hazards, as part of the Department's effort to help make the nation's housing healthy and sustainable.

Through these grant programs, HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control promotes local efforts to eliminate dangerous lead hazards from lower income homes; stimulates private sector investment in lead hazard control; and educates 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, more than $4 million of this funding will support new grantees. HUD is also providing nearly $2.3 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 @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.