HUD AWARDS $3.2 MILLION TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN RHODE ISLAND FROM DANGEROUS LEAD AND OTHER HOME HAZARDS
Funding part of $118 million awarded nationwide to make low-income housing safer and healthier

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded more than $118 million in grants to dozens
of state and local communities, public health organizations and scientific research institutions to better protect children and families from dangerous lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards. In Rhode Island, $3.2 million in total funding was awarded to the City of Warwick and to the State of Rhode Island.

"Today, we take another step closer toward ending childhood lead poisoning and making our homes safer and
healthier places in which to raise our children," said HUD Regional Director Taylor Caswell. "While we've made great progress in reducing lead poisoning, we cannot rest until we banish this preventable disease to the history books."

HUD grants will help 63 state and local projects around the country to conduct a wide range of activities including cleaning up lead-based paint hazards and improving living conditions of lower income families. Through 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, and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet
and espanol.hud.gov. For more information about FHA products, please visit www.fha.gov.

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Lead Hazard Control and Office of Healthy Homes Grants Rhode Island

• The State of Rhode Island will be awarded $3,000,000 to produce 340 lead safe units. Rhode Island
  Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (RI Housing) has administered HUD Lead Hazard Control (LHC)
  grant programs since 1997. RI Housing is committed to eliminating lead poison in the state. RI Housing will
  partner with advocacy and professional groups that focus on lead awareness, housing development, and
  activities of community based and faith based organizations.
  Contact: Carol Ventura, Director of Development (401) 457-1129.
  
  
• The City of Warwick will receive $2,125,992 to continue its lead hazard control program to help provide
  lead safe housing to families. The program proposes to provide grants and no interest loans to provide lead
  hazard control in a total of 125 housing units. The program's methods of controlling the lead hazards include
  complete encapsulation of interior lead paint hazards, removal and replacement of friction causing housing
  elements (windows and doors), encapsulation through paint or siding of exterior paint, abatement of dust
  inside the unit, abatement of soil outside the unit. Warwick's Lead Based Paint Hazard Control Program will
  collaborate its efforts with Westbay Community Action, Inc., Childhood Lead Poisoning Action Project, Rhode
  Island Department of Health, Warwick Housing Authority, Rhode Island Housing Resources Commission, and
  Rhode Island Housing Corporation.
  Contact: Kevin Sullivan, Project Director (401) 738-2000, x6371.