HUD AWARDS TEXAS $17.6 MILLION TO PROTECT FAMILIES FROM LEAD AND OTHER HOME HEALTH HAZARDS
Grants to Houston, Montgomery County, San Antonio, and Waco to make low-income housing safer and healthier

FORT WORTH - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded a total of $17.6 Million to four grantees in the State of Texas to protect children and families from lead-based paint and home health hazards. Houston was awarded $9.7 Million, Montgomery County received $1 Million, San Antonio garnered $4.6 Million, and Waco was awarded $2.3 Million. Nationally, it awarded $319 million to 77 state, local government and tribal agencies, a record amount.

The grants to Texas are provided through HUD's Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction and Healthy Homes Programs to identify and clean up dangerous lead in low-income housing.

"We are committed to improving the lives of all families, especially children, by creating safer and healthier homes," said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. "One of HUD's priorities is protecting families from lead-based paint and other health hazards. Today's grants will help the State of Louisiana and Jefferson Parish do precisely that."

Funding in Texas is as follows:

The City of Houston will be awarded $9,100,000 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding and $600,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funding. The City will address lead hazards in 450 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The City will also perform healthy homes assessments in 150 units, and work with other medical and social service providers. Contact Person: Loren Raun, (832) 393-5157 and loren.raun@houstontx.gov.

Montgomery County (TX) will be awarded $1,000,000 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding. The County will address lead hazards in 40 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children, and work with other medical and social service providers. Contact Person: Joanne Ducharme, (936) 538-8060 and joanne.ducharme@mctx.org.

The City of San Antonio will be awarded $4,000,000 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding and $600,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funding. The City will address lead hazards in 233 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The City will also perform healthy homes assessments in units, and work with other medical and social service providers. Contact Person: Jennifer Buxton, (210) 207-2744 and jennifer.buxton@sanantonio.gov.

The City of Waco will be awarded $2,000,000 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program funding and $300,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funding. The City will address lead hazards in 135 housing units providing safer homes for low and very low-income families with children. The City will also perform healthy homes assessments in 59 units, and work with other medical and social service providers. Contact Person: Galen Price, (254) 750-5965 and galenp@wacotx.gov.

HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes promotes local efforts to eliminate dangerous lead paint and other housing-related health hazards from lower income homes; stimulates private sector investment in lead hazard control; supports cutting-edge research on methods for assessing and controlling housing-related health and safety hazards; and educates the public about the dangers of hazards in the home.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and https://espanol.hud.gov.

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