HUD AWARDS MORE THAN $7.4 MILLION IN GRANTS TO PROTECT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN MICHIGAN FROM LEAD AND OTHER HOME HAZARDS
Funding to make low-income housing safer and healthier

CHICAGO - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded a total of $7,439,602 in grants to three local projects in Michigan to conduct a wide range of activities intended to protect children and families from potentially dangerous lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards.

The grant funding announced today will clean up lead and other health hazards in nearly 6,000 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 residents," 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."

"With these grant awards, HUD makes it clear that providing healthy and safe homes for families and children is a priority," said Jon Gant, Director of HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control. "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 our efforts to help make the nation's housing healthy and sustainable."

"These funds will help ensure the family home is the safe and healthy sanctuary it should be for families in Wisconsin," said Antonio R. Riley, HUD's Midwest Regional Administrator.

Project Descriptions:

The Michigan Department of Community Health is awarded $2,299,602 in Lead Hazard Control grant program funding and $180,000 in healthy homes supplemental funding for the identification and reduction of lead and healthy homes hazards in 185 housing units. The Michigan Department of Community Health will partner with CLEARCorps Detroit, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Allen Neighborhood Center, Bay Area Housing, Inc., Bay county Health Department, Calhoun County Public Health, City of Lansing, City of Detroit, Detroit Lead Partnership, Habitat for Humanity Lansing, Hanson's Windows, Jackson County Health Department, Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services, Lansing Community College, Restoration Works!, Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Svc, Michigan Environmental Council, Wayne County Office of Prosecuting Attorney, Wayne State University. Contact Person: Mr. Wesley F. Priem, Healthy Homes Section Manager (517) 335-8152;

The Charter County of Wayne is awarded $2,300,000 in Lead Based Paint Hazard Control grant program funding and $ 180,000 in healthy homes supplemental funding for the identification and reduction of lead and healthy homes hazards. The Charter County of Wayne will address lead hazard in 190 homes providing safer homes. The Charter County of Wayne will partner with Cities of Dearborn and Wyandotte, and the Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency. Contact Person: Ms. Carol Austerberry, Environmental Health Director (734) 727-7432;

The City of Grand Rapids is awarded $2,300,000 in Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grant program funding and $ 180,000 in healthy homes supplemental funding for the identification and reduction of lead and healthy homes hazards in 180 units. The City of Grand Rapids will partner with the following Community Development Department, LINC Community Revitalization, Kent County Health Department, Rental Property Owners Association and Rental Property Owners Association. Contact Person: Mr. Douglas J. Stek, Lead Hazard Control Project Director (616) 456-3672;

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. HUD is also providing over $5.3 million to help communities transform their lead hazard control programs to address multiple housing-related hazards.

Grant program abbreviations are as follows:

LBPHC - Lead Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program
(includes Healthy Homes Initiative supplemental funding, as applicable)

LHRD - Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program

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