CHICAGO - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $1.7 million in grants to children and families living in Ingham County, Mich., from health and safety hazards in their homes. The grants will support efforts to control asthma and allergy triggers such as mold, moisture, mitigate safety hazards in homes, and improve energy efficiency. Grants will also support research to advance methods for hazard reduction.

The grant funding announced today is part of $18 million HUD is awarding nationwide to clean up health hazards in thousands of homes, train workers, and increase public awareness about reducing and preventing health hazards in their homes.

"HUD is committed to providing healthy and safe homes as part of our mission to help make the nation's housing more healthy and sustainable," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "These grants will help communities to protect families and children from significant health and safety hazards."

"The safety and well-being of families is a top priority for HUD," said Antonio R. Riley, HUD's Midwest Regional Administrator. "We are doing everything in our power to ensure the family home is the healthy sanctuary it should be for Michigan families."

Grant summary: The Michigan Department of Community Health will be awarded $450,000 in Asthma Interventions in Public and Assisted Multifamily Housing Grant funds. The grantee plans to implement a cost-effective and innovative program in Ingham County, Michigan for low-income at-risk populations in four multifamily housing dwellings managed by the Lansing Housing Commission. One phase provides personalized asthma case management services and environmental assessment and intervention within the home environment of affected families. The other phase addresses building level issues. A variety of organizations including Michigan State University Extension Services and the Greater Lansing Housing Coalition will be training building managers and residents on topics such as integrated pest management, mold, environmental asthma triggers, and building systems to create sustainable housing interventions. Contact: Mr. Wesley Priem, Senior Administrative Manager, (517) 331-4394, priemw@michigan.gov

The funding announced today will go to cities, counties, states and universities to eliminate dangerous health and other safety hazards in thousands of privately-owned, low-income housing units. These funds are provided through HUD's Healthy Homes Production, (HHP) Lead and Healthy Homes Technical Studies (LTS, HHTS), and Asthma Interventions in Public and Assisted Multifamily Housing (AIPAMH) grant programs.

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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.