Schumer Announces Rochester Set To Receive $3 Million For Lead Hazard Reduction

Targeted News Service

WASHINGTON, March 23 -- The office of Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., issued the following news release:

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control Program (OHHLHC) has awarded the City of Rochester a $3 million Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration (LHRD) grant, which aims to assist states and local governments in creating wide-ranging programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately owned housing. Funds will be used to evaluate homes for lead paint and lead hazards in order to assess and mitigate health and safety hazards in those homes, and provide training and outreach.

"Lead poisoning is a preventable tragedy that robs our children of their future," said Schumer. "We must do everything we can to eliminate lead from our homes and this grant will do just that by injecting much-needed funds into this remediation and prevention program."

The Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control (OHHLHC) oversees seven grant programs under the Program Management and Assurance Division. The OHHLHC provides funds to state and local governments to develop cost-effective ways to reduce lead-based paint hazards. In addition, the office enforces HUD's lead-based paint regulations, provides public outreach and technical assistance, and conducts technical studies to help protect children and their families from health and safety hazards in the home.

The City of Rochester will partner with the Monroe County Department of Public Health and Rochester Housing Authority and use the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant funds to funding to address lead hazards in 220 units, providing lead-safe homes for low-income families and children. The Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration grant program is targeted for urban jurisdictions with the greatest lead-based paint hazard control needs.

TNS MJ88-120324-3816934 StaffFurigay