Funding Available to Address Health Hazards in Low-Income Housing

HUD recently announced nearly $90 million available to reduce residential health hazards for low-income families, including lead-based paint hazards, carbon monoxide, mold, radon, fire safety, and asbestos. This initiative is part of President Biden’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan to remove lead paint and other home health hazards in low-income communities.

The Housing-related Hazards Capital Fund (HRHCF) & Lead-based Paint Capital Fund Program (LBPCF) NOFO provides grants to PHAs and Indian Housing Authorities to evaluate and reduce residential health hazards in public housing. HUD estimates that addressing these health hazards in public housing units will cost an average of $15,000 per unit. This is notably higher than the average of $3,500 per unit received through Capital Fund Formula grants.

Funds Focus on Lead Paint

Funding for the evaluation and remediation of lead-based paint hazards remains a critical need as most public housing units were constructed prior to 1978, before lead-based paint was banned from residential use, and have extensive potential for lead-based paint. These grants are critical particularly for children under the age of 6 who are most at risk of suffering the devastating effects of lead poisoning. Funding opportunities like the HRHCF and LBPCF grants address urgent health and safety issues that PHAs are often unable to address with their annual Capital Fund Formula grants alone.

Additionally, to further HUD’s commitment to addressing lead-based paint hazards, HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes will soon release funds for the Lead Hazard Reduction and Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building grants for state and local governments. The Healthy Homes Production grants will also be made available, which continues to support a broad spectrum of interventions, including those addressing lead, to promote safer and more resilient living conditions, especially for families living in disadvantaged communities.

Application Deadline

PHAs and Indian Housing Authorities have until July 1, 2024, to apply for the Housing-Related Hazards & Lead-Based Paint Capital Fund Program funding opportunity on grants.gov.

EBLL Response and the Lead-Safe Housing Rule

The Lead Safe Housing Rule (LSHR) for pre-1978 housing applies to all target housing that’s federally owned or receiving federal assistance. Target housing is any housing constructed prior to 1978, except housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities or any zero-bedroom dwelling unless any child who is less than 6 years of age resides or is expected to reside in such housing.

In 2017, as a result of an amendment to the LSHR, owners are required to respond promptly to cases of children under age 6 living in Public Housing units, Housing Choice Voucher units, and Project-Based Voucher units who have elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs).

What’s an Elevated Blood Lead Level (EBLL)?

A blood lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dl) or higher, is considered an EBLL.

What Actions Are Triggered by a Confirmed EBLL?

PHAs and owners must take action if a child under age 6 in federally assisted housing built before 1978 has an EBLL. Once a PHA or owner has been notified of a verified EBLL, the following steps are required:

• The PHA will immediately verify the EBLL report. If verified, owner is required to notify the local HUD Field Office, LeadRegulations@hud.gov, and local health department within five business days of receiving the verified report.
• The PHA will ensure a certified assessor performs an environmental investigation in the unit and common areas within 15 days of the verified report.
• The PHA will notify the resident and other building residents of the results of the environmental investigation within 15 days of receiving the results.
• If the environmental investigation identified lead-based paint hazards, the PHA or owner will make all necessary repairs within 30 days. To protect the resident from further exposure to lead hazards in housing while the work is being done, the household may have to move out of the unit temporarily. A certified lead-based paint abatement or renovation firm will have expertise on all aspects of relocation, control, and clearance.
• Once the repairs are complete, the unit will be tested and certified to be lead-safe. The PHA will provide a “clearance examination report” that explains what was done and ask the resident to report any deteriorated paint or other problems with the work areas. The owner is responsible for notifying all building residents that work is complete and of any hazard reduction activities undertaken. The owner must provide documentation to the local HUD Field Office within 10 business days of completion of clearance.