HUD AWARDS MORE THAN $9 MILLION TO MAKING HOUSING SAFER FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
Funding to make low-income tribal homes safer and healthier

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded more than $9 million in Healthy Homes Production grants to twelve tribes and tribal agencies to protect children and families from home health and safety hazards.

“As a pediatric neurosurgeon I have seen firsthand the negative impacts health hazards in the home have had on our nation’s youth,” said Secretary Carson. “Today’s announcement gets us closer to achieving our goal of providing safe and healthy housing for all Americans.”

Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing conditions can be improved by addressing factors such as lead paint, indoor air quality and ventilation, heating devices, and moisture damage. The grant funding announced today will assist and protect families by targeting health hazards in the homes of 630 low-income families where significant home health and safety hazards exist. The Healthy Homes Production grant program has a history of success, filling critical needs in communities where no other resources exist to address substandard housing that threatens the health of the most vulnerable residents.

Unsafe and unhealthy homes affect the health of millions of people of all income levels, geographic areas, and walks of life in the U.S. Those homes affect the economy directly, through increased utilization of health care services, and indirectly through lost wages and increased school days missed. Housing improvements help prevent injuries and illnesses, reduce associated health care and social services costs, reduce absentee rates for children in school and adults at work, and reduce stress, all which help to improve the quality of life.

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; stimulate 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. Read a complete project-by-project summary of the programs awarded grants today.

The following is a breakdown of the funding announced today: