Funds Will Be Used to Perform Lead Hazard Control Activities, Evaluate Homes and Provide Community Outreach and Training
Lead is a Potent Neurotoxin That Can Cause Permanent Learning Disabilities, Especially in Children
Schumer: To Protect Our Children, Lead Poisoning Must be Eliminated from All NY Homes
WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 20, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control Program (OHHLHC) has awarded $1,749,639 to the County of Westchester to conduct education and outreach activities to create an awareness of lead hazard control and lead poisoning prevention. Westchester has specifically received the Lead Hazard Control (LHC) grant, which aims to assist states and local governments in creating wide-ranging programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately owned housing. Funds will be used to evaluate homes for lead paint and lead hazards in order to assess and mitigate health and safety hazards in those homes, and provide training and outreach.
“Lead poisoning is a preventable tragedy that robs our children of their future,” said Schumer. “We must do everything we can to eliminate lead from our homes and this grant will do just that by injecting much-needed funds into this remediation and prevention program.”
The Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control (OHHLHC) oversees seven grant programs under the Program Management and Assurance Division. The OHHLHC provides funds to state and local governments to develop cost-effective ways to reduce lead-based paint hazards. In addition, the office enforces HUD’s lead-based paint regulations, provides public outreach and technical assistance, and conducts technical studies to help protect children and their families from health and safety hazards in the home.
The County of Westchester will receive $1,749,639 in Lead Hazard Control Grant funds to continue providing services to reduce lead-based paint hazards throughout the County and implement a new marketing campaign with additional activities to attract more property owners. The County will evaluate 230 homes for lead hazards, eliminate lead hazards in 215 homes, conduct outreach and education for 5 events, and provide training to 50 individuals. The County of Westchester will partner with AHOME, Housing Action Council, Human Development Services of Westchester, Preservation Company & Community Development and County of Westchester-Department of Health in this program.
