WASHINGTON, DC – October 16, 2008 – (RealEstateRama) — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of an award totaling $3,999,700 in Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration funds for the City of Rochester. The grant will allow the City to complete and clear 250 units of lead-safe low-income housing.
“This is great news for Rochester, and a wise investment in a city that has shown the leadership and commitment necessary to help protect our children from the dangers of lead poisoning,” said Senator Clinton. “Providing our cities with the resources to raise public awareness and increase lead-safe housing in underserved communities is essential to ensuring that affordable housing creates a safe and healthy environment for our hardworking families.”
According to HUD, the funding will be awarded through the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control Program. In addition the 200 rental and 50 owner-occupied units, the City will also perform 275 combined lead-based paint inspections/risk assessments, provide Lead Safe Work Practices training to 250 individuals, and partner with neighborhood groups to raise community awareness. The ultimate goal of the program is to prevent children from becoming lead-poisoned by addressing sources of lead in and around their homes that pose threats to their health.
Senator Clinton has long been involved in trying to address environmental hazards that impact children’s health, particularly lead hazards. Last month, Senator Clinton introduced legislation to protect children from harmful levels of lead (http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=303743&&). Additionally, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved Senator Clinton’s measure to amend the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Final Lead Renovation and Repair Rule to require improved safety, training and clearance standards for lead removal. Last year she introduced the Lead Elimination, Abatement, and Poisoning Prevention (LEAPP) Act (http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=286195&&). The legislation would improve coordination among federal, state and local government agencies, update standards for pre-lease or sale inspections required by HUD, and establish pilot projects to target areas of high incidence of lead poisoning in children. She has also introduced the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act (http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=279124&&), which provides a tax credit for safely removing lead-based paint hazards from homes and rental units.
