HUD OFFERS $10 MILLION FOR CLEAN UP OF DANGEROUS LEAD IN HOUSING

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is offering $10.1 million in grants to help eliminate dangerous lead-based paint hazards from lower income homes and protect young children from lead poisoning. HUD is making these grants available through its Healthy Homes Demonstration, Green and Healthy Homes Technical Studies, and Lead Hazard Control Capacity Building programs. 

"Today, HUD is reinvesting in the future of our children by promoting healthier housing," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "The grants we're making available today will help communities clean up dangerous lead hazards, promote needed research, and demonstrate cutting edge ways to make our homes healthier." 

HUD is making grants available through the following programs:

* Healthy Homes Demonstration Program - $6 million - These grants will help mobilize public and private resources to develop the most promising, cost-effective methods for identifying and controlling key housing-related environmental health and safety hazards. The grants will also build local capacity to operate sustainable programs that will prevent and control housing-related environmental health and safety hazards in low- and very low-income housing. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit institutions and for-profit firms, state and local governments, housing authorities, federally-recognized Indian Tribes, and colleges and universities. Application due date: Tuesday, November 24, 2009.

* Green and Healthy Homes Technical Studies - $ 2.4 million - These grants will improve knowledge of the effects residential green construction has on both indoor environmental quality and occupant health, with a particular focus on children and other sensitive populations. Eligible applicants include States, public institutions of higher education and hospitals, local (includes State-designated Indian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals); Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals). Application due date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009.


* Lead Hazard Control Capacity Building - $ 1.7 million - These grants will help develop the infrastructure necessary to undertake comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately owned rental or owner-occupied housing. Eligible applicants include States, Federally-recognized Native American Tribes, cities, counties/parishes, or other units of local government that have never been a direct recipient or a subgrantee of a Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control or Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant. Application due date: Thursday, November 19, 2009.


HUD will award grants in these three programs to approximately 28 - 51 applicants ranging from $50,000 to $875,000. Applications may be downloaded from the websites for the individual grant programs above, or from HUD's Funds Available Website.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development, and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.govand espanol.hud.gov.