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HUD awards record $22.1 million to New York to protect families from lead and other home health hazards

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Fri, Oct 11th 2019 06:00 pm

Grants to state, local and tribal governments to make low-income housing safer and healthier

New York grant descriptions: Read a complete project-by-project summary of the programs awarded grants today

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded more than $314 million to 77 state and local government agencies, a record investment to protect children and families from lead-based paint and home health hazards. In addition, HUD is awarding more than $5 million to identify and address home health and safety hazards in six tribal communities.

In New York, HUD awarded $22,143,338 to Onondaga, Erie, Genesee and Niagara Counties; and to the cities of Rochester and Elmira. Elmira is located in a designated Opportunity Zone.

These grants are provided through HUD’s lead-based paint hazard reduction program and healthy homes production grant program for tribal housing to identify and clean up dangerous lead in low-income housing. Many of the grantees announced will work to clean up lead hazards in Opportunity Zones.

“We are committed to improving the lives of all families, especially children, by creating safer and healthier homes,” HUD Secretary Ben Carson said. “One of HUD’s priorities is protecting families from lead-based paint and other health hazards. These grants will help states, tribes and local communities do precisely that.”

“True to his word, Secretary Carson is honored to award over $37.5 million to protect families in New York and New Jersey from the dangers of lead poisoning,” said Lynne Patton, HUD regional administrator for New York and New Jersey. “This critical federal funding will address lead hazards in local housing units, as well as perform inspections in hundreds of additional homes. This major investment in our children and families will ensure that they have the best opportunity to thrive.”

A press release said, “The lead-based paint hazard reduction program grants include $30 million in HUD’s healthy homes supplemental funding to help communities address housing-related health and safety hazards, in addition to lead-based paint hazards. Seven local communities were awarded grants to help their “High Impact Neighborhood,” where they will conduct lead hazard control and healthy homes work intensively in a targeted neighborhood impacted by poor housing conditions. HUD’s new tribal grants fill critical needs in communities where limited resources exist to address substandard housing that threatens the health of the most vulnerable tribal residents.

“Combined, these investments will protect families and children by targeting health hazards in more than 14,700 low-income homes with significant lead and health hazards for which other resources are not available to address these needs.”

“HUD understands the close connection between health and housing,” said Matthew Ammon, director of HUD’s office of lead hazard control and healthy homes. “This year, HUD is awarding a record number of awards to jurisdictions to directly support their efforts to identify and clean up housing-based health hazards like lead and mold.”

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; stimulates 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.

“This $5.6 million funding for lead hazard control and healthy homes will provide critical support in the ongoing fight against lead hazards in Erie County, helping to keep more families and children safe from lead hazards,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “It is always appreciated when our governmental partners at the federal level join us in an effort to protect citizens and create healthier communities.”

“These funds are crucial to ensuring our communities have the support and resources necessary to prevent lead poisoning in children,” stated Daniel J. Stapleton, Niagara County public health director. “These improvements in the home will protect many children from the impacts of lead exposure well into adulthood.”

Lead Hazard Reduction in Opportunity Zones

Created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Opportunity Zones aim to stimulate long-term investments in low-income communities by offering significant capital gains tax relief to those who invest in these distressed areas. This initiative is anticipated to spur $100 billion in private capital investment in Opportunity Zones. Incentivizing investment in low-income communities fosters economic revitalization, job creation, and promotes sustainable economic growth across the nation, especially in communities HUD serves.

Applicants seeking funding under HUD’s lead-based paint hazard reduction and healthy homes production grant program for tribal housing receive bonus points to further drive public investment to these areas.

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