New York, NY – May 15, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — United States Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a total of $2,038,081 in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funding to the city of Utica through the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control (LHC) Grant Program. The money will be used to help eliminate dangerous lead-based paint from low-income homes and protect young children from lead poisoning.
“These funds will help protect the Utica community from the dangers of lead,” said Schumer. “Lead poisoning is no laughing matter and we must do everything we can to eliminate it from our homes. This investment will do just that by injecting much-needed funds into this important program”.
“As a mother and a lawmaker, I know how important it is to make sure children and families are living in safe, healthy environments,” Senator Gillibrand said. “This federal investment will put the right resources to work to get poisonous lead-based paint out of homes to keep Utica families safe. I will continue working with Senator Schumer and our Congressional Delegation to make sure New York gets its fair share of federal dollars.”
Lead poisoning can occur when the opening and shutting of lead-painted doors and windows creates dust or paint chips off of deteriorated windowsills and walls. Young children often ingest the dust and chips by crawling or playing in them and then putting their fingers in their mouths. Abatement can happen by replacing windows or window parts and repainting old areas.
The purpose of the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control (LHC) Grant Program is to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately owned housing for rental or owner-occupants.
Created as a Cabinet-level agency in 1965, HUD aims to increase homeownership, support community development, and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD embraces high standards of ethics, management, and accountability and forges partnerships – particularly with faith-based and community organizations – that leverage resources and improve HUD’s ability to be effective on the community level.
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