The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on Thursday that it is sending $2.5 million to the city of St. Petersburg.
The funds are part of $140 million going to 36 state and local governments in 19 states “to protect children and families from lead-based paint hazards and other home health hazards.
“HUD is providing these grants through its Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program and its new Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building grant program to identify and clean up dangerous lead hazards and other health hazards in low-income families’ homes. These grants include more than $10 million from HUD’s Healthy Homes Supplemental funding to help communities with housing-related health and safety hazards in addition to lead-based paint hazards,” HUD noted. “These investments will protect families and children by controlling significant lead and health hazards in over 3,400 low-income homes for which other resources are not available. The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program has two categories of competitive grants – awarding seven Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grants open to local governments and most states, and 21 Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grants open to local governments with large numbers of older homes, which are more likely to have lead-based paint hazards, and most states. The Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building grant program is awarding eight smaller competitive grants to state and local governments that have not had Lead Hazard Reduction grants, to help them develop the necessary infrastructure and capacity to undertake the larger programs in future years.”
The funds headed to St. Petersburg are from a Lead Hazard Reduction grant. The St. Petersburg city government is the only recipient in Florida.
“Today, we are renewing our steadfast commitment to improving the lives of children and their families,” said U.S. HUD Sec. Marcia Fudge. “The funding provided today will enable communities to make the homes of families of limited means healthier, and improve their children’s school attendance rate, learning, and, eventually, job prospects.”
Matthew Ammon, the director of HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, also weighed in on the funds.
“These grants continue HUD’s commitment to sustainable communities and providing healthy and safe homes for all. We are committed to protecting families from lead-based paint hazards and other hazards in their home,” said Ammon.
