HUD AWARDS $11.2 MILLION TO PROTECT TEXAS CHILDREN FROM LEAD AND OTHER HOME HAZARDS
Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Harris County Receive Awards

FORT WORTH - The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $11,200,000 to protect children
and families living in Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Harris County 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 cities, counties and States to clean up lead and other health hazards in nearly 7,000 high-risk, privately-owned low-income housing units, to train workers in lead safety methods, and to 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 funds are provided through HUD's Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control and Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant programs.

"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."

Grantees, amounts and local contacts follow:

The City of Austin will use its $2,500,000 Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant program funds to evaluate
and remediate lead based paint hazards in 180 homes and to conduct outreach and education. Contact: Kimberly Freeman, (512) 974-3162, kimberly.freeman@ci.austin.tx.us.

The City of San Antonio Department of Planning and Community Development will use its $3,000,000 in Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant program funds to continue providing lead-safe housing for residents of San Antonio. The program will evaluate homes for lead hazards and eliminate hazards in 198 homes and conduct outreach and education for at least 1,500 people through Family Services Association and University of Texas Health and Science Center San Antonio. Grant funds will be used to provide training to individuals in lead hazard reduction activities as well as lead safe work practices. The City of San Antonio will be partnering with University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, Family Service Association in this program. Contact: Mr. T. C. Broadnax,
Assistant City Manager, (210) 207-5093, T.C.Broadnax@sanantonio.gov

Harris County Public Health Services will use its $2,700,000 Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant program funds to provide lead safe housing in the areas of Pasadena, Baytown, Jacinto City, Aldine and Cloverleaf. The program will evaluate homes for lead based paint hazards and eliminate hazards in 150 homes. Funds will be used to conduct outreach and education to reach at least 800 people through collaborative efforts with state and local
health departments and provide training to 20 individuals in lead hazard reduction activities. The program will be partnering with the Harris County Public Services Department throughout this program. Contact: Mr. Richard Allen Williams, Manager, (713) 274-6319, rwilliams@hcphes.org.

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services will use its $3,000,000 in Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant program funds to conduct lead based paint hazard control activities. The program will evaluate 200 homes for lead paint hazards and eliminate hazards in 200 homes. Funds will also be used to conduct outreach, education and provide training to 30 individuals in lead inspection. Contact: Mrs. Brenda Reyes MD, MPH, Bureau
Chief, (832) 393-5141, brenda.reyes2@houstontx.gov.

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.

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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 http://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.